Prairie State Wire

So far in 2020, the United States government has spent trillions of dollars in an effort to minimize the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, but the cost of putting together a response package doesn’t begin to quantify the damage this virus has done. With more than 20 million jobs lost and families struggling to pay rent, the long-term economic damage that the coronavirus pandemic has done to our country will require years of investment to get back on track. And that’s not to mention the things we can’t get back, the lives in every state of our nation and every corner of the Prairie State.

The impacts of COVID-19 have been widespread, and daily routines we once took for granted now require planning and preparation. At its core, this virus is a devastating work of circumstance, and a warning of the consequences we face as our Earth undergoes rapid changes with few protections. While the grave realities of this crisis may not appear to be “environmental” by nature, they are deeply intertwined with our nation’s conservation policies and our work overseas to prevent ecological disaster. But with sensible investments in conservation abroad, the United States can work on the front-end to reduce the likelihood of similar crises.

The Illinois Environmental Council works across our state to promote land protection and restoration, supporting local governments to combat the effects of environmental degradation and protect our open spaces. Across the United States, the work of like minded organizations has helped our country chart a more sustainable path to growth, supporting the long-term survival of resource-dependent industries, encouraging wildlife tourism, and helping protect our agricultural industries from environmental harm. However, these challenges – as we’ve seen through COVID-19 – are global, and U.S. investment must be supported by similar programs abroad.

Eliot Clay, agriculture & water programs director, Illinois Environmental Council | Provided

When wildlife conservation policies are absent in any region, we are all at risk. The consequences of unprotected wildlife and natural spaces can impact global economies, public health, and public safety with little concern for national borders.

COVID-19, for example, is a zoonotic disease – one which was passed from animals to humans. As humans come into closer contact with disease-carrying wildlife who have been displaced from their habitats, the likelihood of further damaging diseases like COVID-19 can greatly increase. But as we’ve seen, just working to ensure that protective wildlife policies are enacted in the United States doesn’t counter the risk we face abroad. That’s why investment in international conservation programs, which allow the U.S. to promote sustainable growth policies and increased enforcement of wildlife trafficking and environmental damage abroad – pay off in the long-run, helping protect Americans from the transnational effects of wildlife harm.

Today, more than ever, these modest investments – only a small fraction of 1 percent of the federal budget – would go a long way to ensuring the long-term safety and security of Illinois’ economic and physical health. It’s crucial that our elected leaders representing us at the federal level recognize and support international conservation before preventable, regional issues become global crises at our doorstep here at home.

- Eliot Clay, agriculture & water programs director, Illinois Environmental Council