The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MEA) : The Report "Ecosystems and Human Well-Being: Health Synthesis”

 Introduction

The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MEA) was a major international assessment of the state of the world's ecosystems and their impact on human well-being. The MEA was launched in 2001 by the United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan and was completed in 2005. The assessment involved the work of over 1,360 experts from 95 countries, and it was divided into four major areas: ecosystems and human well-being, condition and trends of the world's ecosystems, policy responses to ecosystem change, and scenarios for the future.

Photo from:https://www.researchgate.net/figure/The-Millennium-Ecosystem-Assessment-MEA-organizes-ecosystem-services-into-four-broad_fig3_267210763

The MEA found that human activities are causing significant and accelerating changes to the world's ecosystems, and that these changes are having significant impacts on human well-being(Raudsepp-Hearne et al., 2010). The report identified a number of key ecosystem services that are essential for human well-being, including food production, clean water, air and water regulation, and cultural and recreational services. The report also identified a number of key drivers of ecosystem change, including land-use change, climate change, overexploitation of natural resources, and pollution. The MEA provided a scientific basis for action to conserve and use ecosystems sustainably, and it has had a major impact on global policy-making and conservation efforts. The report helped to bring greater attention to the importance of ecosystem services, and it has been used to guide the development of policies and programs aimed at protecting and conserving ecosystems around the world.

About The Report "Ecosystems and Human Well-Being: Health Synthesis”

The report discusses the relationship between ecosystem services and human health, highlighting the crucial role of ecosystems in providing services that are essential for human well-being, such as fresh water, food, timber, fiber, and fuel. The report emphasizes the significant changes in ecosystems due to human actions, resulting in the depletion of biodiversity, loss of natural resources, and changes in ecosystem functioning, with both positive and negative health implications. The adverse consequences of these changes, such as undernutrition, lack of safe water and sanitation, and poor health services, have staggering human health implications, costing millions of lives each year. The report presents four scenarios to explore possible future trends and developments until 2050, and the consequences for ecosystem services and human well-being. The report also discusses strategies to address the health consequences of ecosystem change, such as preventing or managing environmental damage and making adaptive changes to protect individuals and populations. The report concludes with policy implications and measures to ensure ecological sustainability that would benefit health in the long term, such as cross-sectoral policies that promote ecologically sustainable development and address underlying driving forces, mitigation strategies that reduce the underlying causes of ecosystem change, adaptation strategies to reduce the effect of ecosystem disruption on health, and integrated action for health.

Two interesting and informative insights I learned from this report:

i. The concept of disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) as a metric for measuring the health impacts of ecosystem changes. DALYs are a measure of overall disease burden, expressed as the number of years lost due to ill health, disability, or early death. The report suggests that using this metric can help establish priorities for actions addressing the health consequences of ecosystem change. This is a useful tool for policymakers and researchers to understand the scale of the health impacts of environmental changes, as it takes into account both morbidity and mortality.

ii. The potential of a proactive management approach to ecosystem services to support sustainable development. The report suggests that adopting proactive management of ecosystems, local adaptation, and flexible governance can help support sustainable development and improve human well-being. This approach can involve a range of strategies, including mitigating the underlying causes of ecosystem change, adapting to the impacts of ecosystem disruption on health, and taking an integrated approach to health in sustainable development planning. This is a positive and proactive way of addressing the challenges posed by ecosystem change, and could lead to more effective and sustainable solutions.

Dengue Fever

Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne viral disease that is common in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. It is caused by one of four closely related dengue viruses, which are transmitted to humans by the bite of infected Aedes mosquitoes. Symptoms of dengue fever include fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, rash, and in some cases, severe bleeding, shock, and organ failure. There is no specific treatment for dengue fever, but early detection and supportive care can improve outcomes. Prevention of dengue fever includes controlling mosquito populations and avoiding mosquito bites, such as wearing protective clothing, using mosquito repellent, and staying indoors during peak mosquito activity times. There is also a vaccine available for dengue fever, which is recommended for individuals living in areas where dengue is common. Dengue is endemic in many parts of the world, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions, and is a significant public health problem in these areas.

Photo from:https://www.nature.com/articles/nrdp201655

Ecosystem changes can potentially impact the incidence of dengue fever in a number of ways:

i. Climate Change

Climate change can alter the distribution, abundance, and behavior of mosquitoes, which are the primary vectors of dengue fever. Rising temperatures and changing precipitation patterns can create more favorable conditions for mosquito breeding and survival, which can increase the incidence of dengue fever.

ii. Land Use Changes

Changes in land use, such as deforestation, urbanization, and agricultural expansion, can alter the habitat and distribution of mosquitoes. Deforestation, for example, can create new breeding sites for mosquitoes, while urbanization can increase the density of human populations, which can facilitate the spread of dengue fever.

iii. Human Behavior

Human behavior can also influence the transmission of dengue fever. For example, changes in travel patterns or the use of insecticides can impact the distribution and abundance of mosquitoes, which can affect the incidence of dengue fever.

In summary, ecosystem changes can potentially impact the incidence of dengue fever in a number of ways. Understanding the complex interactions between human behavior, mosquito ecology, and environmental factors is critical to preventing and controlling dengue fever.

Reducing The Threats from Infectious Diseases : Take Actions 

There are several actions that can be taken to reduce the threats to human health from infectious diseases like dengue fever:

i. Implement Integrated Vector Management (IVM)

IVM is a comprehensive approach to controlling mosquito populations, which includes measures such as environmental management, biological control, and the use of insecticides. IVM can help to reduce the risk of dengue transmission by targeting mosquito breeding sites and controlling mosquito populations.

ii. Increase Public Awareness and Education

Educating the public about the risks and symptoms of dengue fever can help to reduce the incidence of the disease. Public awareness campaigns can also encourage people to take preventative measures such as using mosquito repellent and wearing protective clothing.

iii. Improve Disease Surveillance and Response

Early detection and rapid response are critical for controlling dengue fever outbreaks. Improving disease surveillance systems and developing effective response plans can help to identify and contain outbreaks before they become widespread.

iv. Address Climate Change and Environmental Factors

Addressing climate change and environmental factors such as deforestation and urbanization can help to reduce the risk of dengue transmission. Measures such as reforestation, sustainable land use practices, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions can help to create a more resilient ecosystem.

v. Improve Access to Healthcare

Improving access to healthcare, particularly in areas where dengue fever is endemic, can help to reduce the burden of the disease. This includes increasing the availability of diagnostic tests, developing effective treatments, and providing supportive care for severe cases.

Finally,  I would like to ask : What are the potential health consequences of ecosystem changes, and what strategies can be employed to address these consequences?

Reference

Bhatt, S., et al., The global distribution and burden of dengue. Nature, 2013. 496(7446): p. 504–507.

Brady, O.J., et al., Refining the global spatial limits of dengue virus transmission by evidence-based consensus. PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 2012. 6(8): p. e1760.

Raudsepp-Hearne, C., Peterson, G. D., Tengö, M., & Bennett, E. M. (n.d.). Articles untangling the environmentalist’s paradox: Why is ... - JSTOR. Retrieved April 28, 2023, from https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1525/bio.2010.60.8.4 

World Health Organization. (n.d.). Dengue and severe dengue. Retrieved April 28, 2023, from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/dengue-and-severe-dengue