The unforeseen COVID-19 pandemic has undoubtedly shocked the entire world’s population and altered all human activity. Tens of millions of people have tested positive with the novelty virus, and over a million people have died.
Human life has been deeply affected, and some even destroyed, but the pandemic also has its benefits towards the Earth, and non-human, and even human species.
Clearer waters in the oceans, bluer skies in polluted cities, wild animals roaming free in areas that are under lockdown, fewer cars are crashing, crime is falling, and some other infectious diseases are reportedly lowering in hospitals.
Climate breakdown, mass extinction of species, and pandemics are three current major existential threats to humankind, the Earth, and animals. Living Planet has reported that “we have lost 60% of wildlife in less than 50 years, freshwater species have had the largest decline in the past 50 years, giraffe numbers have dropped 40% in the last 30 years, and lion populations have fallen 43% in only 21 years. All declining because of human activity.” Science Advances reports that the rate of animal extinction is 100 times higher than would have been normal without human activity.
“Less human activity of course means less pollution, less garbage, and hopefully an opportunity for everyone to see and enjoy the more important things in life like nature. Trees, animals, the sky, the oceans, are all here for us to enjoy and humans have been taking advantage of all of it for hundreds of years.” Environmental activist and PETA representative, Melita Winter said.
With COVID-19 shutting down most schools and corporate buildings, limiting travel, and stay-home orders in place, traffic has plummeted on land and sea. CNN reported that NASA satellites have discovered major reductions in air pollution worldwide, which in turn, helps every breathing animal. It mainly will help wild bees smells flowers from a greater distance, and help birds communicate with each other and fly higher. Less cruise ships and transport in the seas help oceanic species roam the clear, quiet water.
https://www.eea.europa.eu/highlights/impact-of-covid-19-lockdown
“Oceans are quieter which definitely benefit sea creatures, especially whales.” Minda Al-Geezy, environmental science studies student, at the University of Calgary said. “Humpback whales specifically prefer the ocean less noisy. Their stress levels fall and they are able to mate which will increase their population, which has not been doing well the last few decades.”
COVID-19 has done many things to the world in the last few months, majority of the outcomes from the virus are negative, but there are positives as well. If the people of this Earth adapt some aspects of the pandemic that we have learned this year, wildlife all over the world can continue to benefit at no cost of the humans.
Actor and environmentalist Leonardo DiCaprio said in a public statement during the beginning of the lockdowns, “Already, we are seeing the benefits that less human activity has on the Earth. Climate change is on the dramatic rise and possibly this virus is exactly what we, the humans, needed to slow everything down, and think about the planet we live on, and other species that live here as well.”
After nearly a year since we’ve had to adapt to the changes in the world because of COVID, not all factors have been negative. If we can adjust our “new normal” and keep up with a few of the standards we now follow, the world and life on Earth can strive, instead of falter.
