ENVS1301 UNIT4 Discussion Forum: Ecosystems and Human Well-Being

Important details about the discussion of Unit 4

Your posts should cover the questions below in full, and be at least 300 words long. Then reply to and peer-review at least three other posts by next Wednesday 11:59PM university Time, and rate the posts and replies.

The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MEA) assessed the consequences of ecosystem change on human well-being. From 2001 to 2005, the MEA involved the work of more than 1,360 experts worldwide. Their findings provide state-of-the-art scientific appraisal of the condition and trends in the world's ecosystems and the services they provide, as well as the scientific basis for action to conserve and use them sustainably.

Open the link to the report "Ecosystems and Human Well-Being: Health Synthesis”. To understand the health impacts of ecosystem change, read the "Summary for Decision Makers”, pages 1-10 of this document. Then answer the following questions:

1. What is this report about?
2. List two new things you learned from reading this report. What are they? Explain them.
3. What two actions would you take to reduce the threats to human health and life from one of the infectious diseases listed in Table 1.1 (page 24)?
4. List one question that you would like to have answered as a result of reading this report.

Any materials cited should be referenced using the style guidelines established by the American Psychological Association (APA).

 

 

1. What is this report about?

This report describes the relationship between ecosystem services and the well-being and health of people. We can learn how Fresh water, food, materials, nutrients, climate, etc., contribute to our stable and safe lives and happiness.

 

2. List two new things you learned from reading this report. What are they? Explain them.

 

・Infectious disease risks are affected particularly by destruction of, or encroachment into, wildlife habitats such as logging and road building (World Health Organization, 2005).

 

"The significant associations observed between epidemics and deforestation mostly concerned the countries of the intertropical zone with high forest cover, such as Brazil, Peru, and Bolivia in South America, Democratic Republic of Congo and Cameroon in Africa, Indonesia, Myanmar and Malaysia in Southeast Asia" (Morand & Lajaunie, 2021, para.2). Association between deforestation and outbreaks of malaria has been documented in Brazil, and it reveals that the net effect of deforestation favors mosquitoes that serve as vectors of human diseases (Morand & Lajaunie, 2021).  And, "several studies have emphasized the role of forest deforestation in the emergence of zoonotic diseases such as Ebola in Africa" (Morand & Lajaunie, 2021, para.2). This is because deforestation has narrowed wildlife settlements and forced them to move to human settlements. Viruses and bacteria carried by wild animals have entered the water and soil used by humans.

 

・"Human health can be harmed by exposure to certain toxins produced by algal blooms" (World Health Organization, 2005, p.12).

 

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are caused by cyanobacteria (also known as blue-green algae) which may or may not produce toxins; when humans are exposed to cyanobacteria toxin, it causes common gastrointestinal symptoms, skin and eye irritation may result, along with tingling or numbness of the lips, fingers and toes, and dizziness (Virginia Department of Health, 2018). Also, some studies show that long-term exposure to cyanobacteria toxins may result in liver damage or other chronic health effects (Virginia Department of Health, 2018).

 

 

3. What two actions would you take to reduce the threats to human health and life from one of the infectious diseases listed in Table 1.1 (page 24)?

First, vaccination. In Japan, all children are required to be vaccinated against the major diseases on this list before entering elementary school. Therefore, contracting these infectious these in Japan has been almost zero except for overseas travel in recent years.

Second, washing my hands with clean water and soap and paying attention to drinking water quality. It is the basis of all disease prevention and the most effective method.

 

 

4. List one question that you would like to have answered as a result of reading this report.

 

How does the existence of water enable us to survive on Earth? How does the Earth differ from other planets in the same sense?

 

 

Thank you for reading, guys!

Have a nice day!! 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　(458 words)

 

 

 

 References

 

Morand, S., & Lajaunie, C. (2021). Outbreaks of Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases Are Associated With Changes in Forest Cover and Oil Palm Expansion at Global Scale. Frontiers. Retrieved from https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2021.661063/full#:~:text=Deforestation%20and%20Disease%20Outbreaks&text=Several%20studies%20have%20already%20attested,balabacensis%20(33).

 

Virginia Department of Health. (2018). Harmful algal blooms (habs). Epidemiology. Retrieved from https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/epidemiology/epidemiology-fact-sheets/harmful-algal-blooms/

 

World Health Organization. (2005). Ecosystems and Human Well-Being: Health Synthesis. Retrieved from https://my.uopeople.edu/pluginfile.php/1573035/mod_book/chapter/338939/Unit04DA.pdf