Policy Brief: “Reducing zoonotic risk through nature restoration” Published: June 2026 | Over 75% of emerging infectious diseases are zoonotic, and land-use change is a major driver of zoonotic spillover risk. Restoration can strengthen ecosystem resilience while mitigating existing disease risks; it is a primary tool to reshape habitats, wildlife populations, and human-wildlife interactions, moving…
Diverse agricultural and forest landscapes enhance human physical and mental health. Even small land use changes can introduce health risks into the environment.
The diversity of functions that insects provide is crucial to sustain agricultural production. Diversity supports wild bee health. Soil microbial diversity can protect crops from disease and insect pests.
Biodiversity can mitigate the spread of infectious diseases. Human disruptions alter ecosystems’ ability to protect our health.
This brief highlights the increase and the threat posed by these diseases to Europe’s biodiversity, as demonstrated in the RACE project.