This work shows how biodiversity underpins healthy landscapes for people. Biodiversity is not only vital for clean water and climate regulation, it is fundamental to our future health. Restoration, done well, is a powerful tool for tackling the drivers of future pandemic spillovers.
The research forms part of the RESTOREID (Restoring Ecosystems to Stop the Threat of Re-Emerging Infectious Disease) project and shows that some actions, such as protecting wetlands and conserving existing natural habitats, are frequently linked to lower risks of mosquito-borne disease.
The study was led by Dr Adam Fell from the University of Stirling’s Faculty of Natural Sciences. He said: “As humans increasingly alter natural landscapes, people and wildlife are coming into closer contact, making it easier for diseases to emerge or spread.
“While restoring degraded environments is essential for tackling climate change and biodiversity loss, we still know surprisingly little about how restoration affects disease risk. Our findings show that land use and restoration decisions can directly affect human health.”
In contrast to habitat protection, certain forms of tree planting or reforestation were found to increase disease risk during early recovery stages, particularly for mosquito or tick-borne diseases.
The researchers also found that most studies to date have been carried out in wealthier countries, despite many of the most serious disease risks occurring in lower income regions. Large parts of Africa, Southeast Asia and Latin America remain under-studied, even though land use change and zoonotic disease risk are both high.
To address this gap, the team identified 50 global priority locations where new research would be most valuable and developed an open, interactive online atlas to support policymakers, conservation practitioners and public health officials.
Dr Fell added: “By identifying priority areas for future research and providing an open evidence atlas, the study offers practical tools to help plan restoration in ways that protect both people and nature. The findings support a One Health approach, showing that well designed restoration can help reduce future disease risks.”
The research team systematically reviewed and analysed studies published between 2000 and 2024 that examined how land use change and ecosystem restoration affect the risk of diseases spreading from animals to people. Peer reviewed research was combined with case studies and policy reports, and spatial modelling was used to identify locations where future research would be most valuable.
