Wildlife Migration among World Protected Areas
Wildlife migrates across the globe, which could be a major factor in the
spread of the COVID-19. Wildlife migration takes place at short and high
distances, both individually and socially, and on a seasonal basis
(Dingle & Drake, 2017). For example, avian influenza (H5N1) viruses are
due to transmitted between migratory/wild birds and may cause a threat
human health (Ahmed et al., 2020; Dhama et al. 2012; Sakoda et al.,
2012). Migration distance and population are dependent on several
factors such as animal species, ecological niches, suitable habitats,
and so on. Therefore, it is not possible to control, manage or prevent
wildlife migration. As we enter the summer season, many animals will
migrate from hot regions to cold ones in recent months, bringing a new
wave of COVID-19 transmission. Many species of wildlife, including
birds, mammals, and fishes, also exhibit migratory behaviors, and many
are prone to transmitting the COVID-19. On the other hand, this species
lives in a variety of habitats, including terrestrial and aquatic
habitats, and nowhere in the world will be safe from the risk of
COVID-19 transmitting by wildlife migration. However, it is important to
note that wildlife migration is occurred between protected areas where
is the most important habitat for animals (Rezazadeh et al., 2019;
Shirani et al., 2017, Sobhani et al. 2018). More than 238,563 regions
have been designated as a protected area by the International Union of
Conservation Nature (IUCN) since July 2018 (Figure 1). Most protected
areas are terrestrial and cover over 20 million km2 or
14.9% of the earth. On the other hand, marine protected areas are fewer
in number but cover more than 6 million km2equivalents to 7.3% of the oceans (UN Environment Programme World
Conservation Monitoring Centre & International Union of Conservation
Nature , 2018).
.
Therefore, managing and controlling protected areas around the world can
be a great help in controlling the spread of the COVID-19. There is also
a higher risk of transmitting COVID-19 to countries with higher levels
of protected areas (Fig2).
There is good evidence that quarantine in different areas that are
infected by COVID-19 will lead to control of virus transmission. The
protected areas are potentially prone to the transmission of the virus
from animal to human. Therefore these areas should be quarantined or
fully observed for COVID-19 infection. Unfortunately, only 21,743
protected areas have an effective management report, (20% of protected
areas in the World Department of Protected Area (WDPA) (UN Environment
Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre & International Union of
Conservation Nature , 2018). This issue limits monitoring and
controlling the spread of the COVID-19 in protected areas which is
extremely worrying. In the past 10 years, Global Database on Protected
Areas Management Effectiveness (GD-PAME) collected data from management
effectiveness in 169 countries containing 21,743 different protected
areas (UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre &
International Union of Conservation Nature , 2018b). However, in figure
3, we see that most protected areas in the world have not been assessed
for management effectiveness and this make so hard to manage the
COVID-19 infection in these areas. The highest number of fully managed
protected areas is found in Europe, where protected areas having been
repeatedly assessed (Figure 4). Hence, the control of COVID-19 infection
in between wild animals and human is more probable in Europe than other
regions. More than 82% of protected areas in the world are managed by
government organizations (UN Environment Programme World Conservation
Monitoring Centre & International Union of Conservation Nature , 2018).
hence governments are the first responsible for COVID-19 infection
control in wildlife migratory behaviors in protected areas. Compared to
other geographical regions, this ratio has the highest rate in Europe
and therefore, EU governments are most responsible for controlling the
COVID-19 in these areas.
Connectivity between protected areas is other indicator of COVID-19
transmission. Connectivity of protected area means that wildlife is
easily relocated or migrated between these areas, and it is essential to
maintain the viability of species, communities and ecosystems (Sadegh
oghli et al.,
2019a,b; Haghverdi et al., 2019a,b).. Figure 5 reveals that African
countries have the most connected protected areas. It means that
wildlife easily can transmit COVID-19 between countries on this
continent. The transmission of COVID-19 between animal and human will be
facilitated. On the other hand, some regions are wild with low human
populations and some regions are occupied by human settlements or human
activities (such as farming and energy production); and protected areas
are scattered among them. National Geographic Society (NGS) developed a
human impact map developing to illustrate the planet’s relatively
untouched terrestrial landscapes (Fig 6) (UN Environment Programme World
Conservation Monitoring Centre & International Union of Conservation
Nature , 2018a). Indeed protected areas in not wild regions are more
prone to outbreak COVID-19 between animals and human.