Role of socio-ecological production landscapes and seascapes in the face of COVID-19 and towards transformative change
This paper examines the role of socio-ecological production landscapes and seascapes in the face of COVID-19 and towards transformative change. The emergence of zoonotic diseases like COVID-19 is correlated with increasingly unsustainable interactions between people and nature. Their probability of developing into pandemics is increased by the rapid movement of people and products that characterises globalisation. We can mitigate these risks by re-establishing a harmonious relationship with nature.
The paper results with the following five key messages:
- Under the COVID-19 crisis, socio-ecological production landscapes and seascapes (SEPLS) provide safety-nets on which people rely for their food, livelihood and other necessities. Traditional knowledge on natural resources enables these provisions.
- Challenges include ongoing degradation of SEPLS threatening these safety-nets and limitations on face-to-face communication to prevent infection, which may hamper trust-building and consensus
- Landscape management for diversity and resilience is needed to prevent and respond to future pandemics.
- Such landscape management can take advantage of ongoing changes affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, including people’s sense of space and time as well as rapid IT development.
- Communication gaps and the digital divide1, which can be exacerbated by physical distancing under COVID-19 and increasing reliance on ICT, should be addressed for a future with no one left behind.