How Nature Has Improved Since the Lockdowns

The beneficial environmental effects.

Some of us have been on lockdown for a year due to the global pandemic. This has meant that an increased number of people are working from home.

Our cars have been parked up outside our homes and driven less. There is no longer the hustle and bustle of city life and crowded trains. The streets are quieter apart from a few dog walkers and joggers.

This is something that has not been seen before in our lives, and unfamiliar to all of us. During this time something wonderful has happened. Nature has improved simply because we have changed our habits. Here are the ways that things have improved:

Environment

Emissions have drastically reduced since lockdown. Less energy is being used. One reason for the reduction in energy use is that there are limited flights available. At the start of lockdown flights completely grounded to a halt. Although flights have resumed there are not many flights available.

Air pollution has improved because there are fewer cars on the road and reduced public transport. In some parts of the world air pollution has fallen by 70%.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has estimated that approximately 3 million people die every year from air pollution-related illnesses. Since the lockdowns, there has been a reduction in air pollution deaths.

Nature

Wildlife has benefited from the lockdowns. It has been reported that road traffic-related wildlife deaths have reduced. The main animals that have seen a reduction in road deaths are foxes and hedgehogs.

Nature has been able to reclaim the land that was once fully occupied by humans. It is now easier to spot a beautiful butterfly or ladybird. The first part of lockdown saw an increase of over 50% in wildlife sightings.

Cleaner Rivers

Cleaner water is another positive outcome of the covid19 lockdowns. One example of this is the Indian river the Ganges. This river used to be one of the most polluted rivers with sewage and rubbish. Before lockdown, the Ganges was polluted, but it has now been reported that it is clean enough to swim in.

There are also some reports that previously polluted waters are now clean enough to drink. Cleaner rivers have helped sea life. There has been a drastic reduction in fishing since the lockdowns.

Some parts of the world that eat sharks have seen a 70% reduction in the availability of this food.

The Future

The big question is whether these improvements will last, or if it will go back to the way that it was before lockdown.

The truth is that it is uncertain what will happen when restrictions are fully lifted. It is possible that there will be a new shift to working from home. If this happens it will continue to have a positive impact on the environment and nature.

There is also the possibility that things will return to how they were before lockdown. If this happens things may return to how they were pre-lockdown.

Historical Pandemics

Past pandemics have seen a reduction in pollution levels and environmental issues.

During epidemics such as smallpox, the land was abandoned which reduced the CO2 emissions. Since these incidents of the past pollution have increased.

Nobody knows if the positive environmental changes will be seen long term. For us to continue to see these changes we all need to make small changes where we can.

If you have to return to work consider car-sharing if you can to help the environment. Keeping rivers clean is another permanent change that can be made.