Biology stuff
Flora:
Deforestation and Land Use: The pandemic has not given nature a
break as often assumed. In many rural areas, particularly in the
tropics, there has been increased pressure from land grabbing,
deforestation, illegal mining, and wildlife poaching. This rise in
deforestation was also seen globally, with a 150% increase in 18
countries in March 2020 compared to the same month in 2019​​.
Conservation Efforts: Conservation efforts were hampered due to
lockdowns. Travel restrictions prevented forestry services and
conservationists from monitoring forest boundaries and enforcing
conservation laws. This led to an 85% reduction in field activities by
conservation organizations and impacted the budget and
effectiveness of many protected areas​​.
Fauna:
Wildlife Responses: Wildlife experienced varied responses to the
reduction in human activities. There was less air and noise pollution,
leading to benefits like a 39% increase in nesting success for
loggerhead turtles in Florida and an 86% reduction in ocean noise in
British Columbia. However, there were also negative impacts like
increased illegal hunting and fishing, disruption in conservation
enforcement, and delays in invasive species control programs​​.
Complex Ecosystem Dynamics: The pandemic created complex
ecological dynamics. For example, reduced hunting pressure on snow
geese in North America led them to arrive in the Arctic larger and
healthier, which could have detrimental effects on other species and
the ecosystem​​.
Conservation and Policy Challenges: The pandemic highlighted the
need for new conservation strategies and policy reforms. For instance,
the increased use of single-use plastics and masks due to the
pandemic emphasized the need for better waste management and
plastic pollution control. Additionally, some countries reducing
environmental safeguards post-pandemic posed a threat to ecosystem
sustainability​​.
Pollinators (Bees)
Impact on Beekeeping and Pollination: Travel restrictions during the
pandemic impacted the beekeeping industry significantly. In countries
like the US and China, where there are fewer local bees, beekeepers
transport hives long distances for pollination. These restrictions
hindered the movement of bees, affected the ability of beekeepers to
care for their hives, and reduced the availability of seasonal workers
for bee transport​​.
Economic Impact: The value of pollination services to US crop
production ranges from $15-20 billion annually. Harvest losses without
bees can range from 5-10% for grains to as high as 80% for crops like
almonds and cherries​​.
Global Food System: Bees, along with other pollinators, are critical for
the global food system, but their populations are declining due to
human activities like habitat destruction and pesticide use. The
pandemic's travel restrictions potentially saved some bees from road
deaths, but they did little to address major issues like habitat loss​​.
In summary, while there were some positive environmental effects due
to reduced human activity during the COVID-19 pandemic, the overall
impact on flora and fauna was complex and often detrimental. The
pandemic highlighted the delicate balance between human activity,
conservation efforts, and natural ecosystems, emphasizing the need
for sustainable practices and robust conservation strategies.
A mass of olive ridley sea turtles nesting in the eastern Indian state of Odisha. Local
officials said it was the first time there had been a mass nesting during the day in
seven years.
A sika deer walks past a souvenir store at a temple in Nara, which is now quite
empty following the coronavirus public lockdowns.
An absence of tourists and residents in public spaces in Mexico led to a leatherback
sea turtle laying its eggs on the beach in front of a luxury hotel in Cancún.
Regional environment secretary Alfredo Arellano told local media, "On average, we
only see one leatherback sea turtle a year and the nesting season starts in May, it
was something unusual." The sighting happened after the Mexican government
ordered a public lockdown until April 30, 2020.
Amazon forest deforestation reached a new all high peak in the
COVID 19 pandemic.