As the U.S. tops nearly 14 million COVID-19 cases, leaders work tirelessly on policy to rebuild from the pandemic’s economic and social shocks. While media attention is on the pandemic, other pressing global issues risk being swept under the rug. Let’s not forget that the world is still on track for at least 3.6°F (2°Celsius) of global warming; deforestation in the Amazon is the highest it’s been in 12 years, and human activities that encroach habitats have been shown to exacerbate emerging infectious diseases in wildlife that can transfer to humans. Ultimately, the continued degradation of nature increases the risk of animal-borne diseases like COVID-19.
The U.S.’s response to the pandemic thus far has failed to take nature into account. Under President Donald Trump, the government passed legislation aimed at assisting hard-hit industries, such as airlines and cruise operators. These industries are heavy contributors to environmental health problems. Shipping vessels release large quantities of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and particulate matter, endangering human health, and contribute 2-3% of the world’s total greenhouse gas emissions.
Pandemic recovery plans should not promote growth at the expense of nature. Ignoring nature will only leave humans more vulnerable. From more frequent natural disasters to increased wildlife-to-human disease transmission, the U.S. needs economic recovery plans that promote economic growth and the protection of nature.
The good news is that we have a solution. The U.S. government could design a stimulus package that makes use of nature-based solutions (NbS) to promote economic growth and recovery while also protecting natural resources.
NbS are activities aimed at protecting and restoring natural ecosystems to help us address society’s challenges effectively. Examples include restoring wetlands to reduce coastal erosion and restoring degraded forests. Incorporating NbS into current economic recovery plans would simultaneously stimulate the economy and increase the U.S.’s climate resilience.
We don’t have to look hard for examples of how nature can be an important part of a COVID-19 recovery strategy. Germany allocated $848 million of its two-year $157 billion COVID-19 economic plan to forest management. Promoting forest management promotes carbon storage and increases biodiversity.
The U.S. once considered nature in its economic plans. During the Great Depression, the government set up the Civilian Conservation Corps, an initiative that engaged three million people in planting three billion trees, building coastal barriers, and constructing facilities for hundreds of national parks.
The Civilian Conservation Corps was created to help relieve Great Depression-era unemployment by employing men in conservation work, from planting trees to maintaining forest roads and trails. Image source: Brittanica.
More recently, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) included $167 million to restore coastal habitat, supporting on average 17 jobs per $1 million invested.
The U.S. has lost 22 million jobs during the pandemic. Most have yet to be recovered. NbS projects create entry-level jobs, making them feasible and accessible for most Americans. The message is clear: now is the time to integrate nature into our recovery plans.
Politicians are recognizing the role of NbS in pandemic recovery plans. Harkening back to the Civilian Conservation Corps, Washington state Governor Jay Inslee has proposed another CCC—the Civilian Climate Corps. Workers would manage forests, plant trees in cities, restore ecosystems, and remove invasive species. Likewise, in September, Illinois Senator Dick Durbin introduced the RENEW Conservation Corps Act to employ one million unemployed Americans in similar conservation and recreation work. While President-elect Joe Biden’s current climate plans don’t integrate nature-based solutions as much as they could, the message is getting there.
Let’s not be short-sighted. The pandemic has hit the U.S. hard, and Americans need a strong recovery strategy. As the U.S. addresses the critical health and economic impacts of COVID-19, let’s also strengthen our resilience to environmental risks by promoting economic growth that works with nature, not against it.