BACKGROUND :

From urban growth to natural resource extraction and agricultural intensification, anthropogenic land use change is leaving an indelible mark on the planet. Globally, from 2000 – 2012, net forest cover loss totaled 1.5 million square kilometers, 32% of which occurred in tropical rainforest ecosystems. This radical alteration in our natural environment is contributing to an acceleration in the pace and diversity of vector-borne and zoonotic disease emergence, as humans, their livestock, and wildlife are placed into increasingly greater contact. This session will provide a forum for exploration of the mechanics of land use change-associated zoonotic disease emergence and novel, practical solutions to address this challenge.