Implications of Living in Harmony with Nature for Urban Sustainability in Post Covid-19 Era

Abstract

In the present globalizing world, the technological advancement, breakthroughs, innovations and flourishing civilization are hinged on the kindness and benevolence of nature and its resources. When in harmonious relationship with man, nature nurtures mankind to abundance, peaceful co-existence, livability and prosperity. Unfortunately, man’s present consumption and production patterns coupled with ostentatious lifestyles have created a scenario of unabated onslaught of abuse, neglect, and disregard to the environment, resulting in resource exploitation, climate change, deforestation and wildlife trade; degradation, loss of biodiversity, and a host of others –which are the growing challenges presently confronting and threatening the entire human settlement; whether rural or urban setting, developed and developing nations. The paper examines the meaning, origin and dimensions of the concept of harmony and highlights the paradigm shift of its relationship with humanity to the present age. It also traces the origin, causes and spread of Covid-19 Pandemic to humanity’s disharmony with nature through contact with pathogens of zoonotic origin that often result to crisis of sustainability.  Until now, most efforts to prevent spread of new disease tend to focus on vaccine development, early diagnosis and containment, but very little consideration has been given to strategies of living in harmony with nature to ensure urban sustainability in the post Covid-19 era. Content review, analysis and synthesis of relevant documented evidences such as newspaper reports, publications and data of organizations and agencies, as well as Google search, were utilized for the paper. Concepts of carrying capacity and ecological footprints provide the theoretical anchor for the study. Findings established that, human factors or activities such as urbanization, deforestation, resource exploitation, etc, are responsible for the disharmony with nature, as well as exacerbating the spread of zoonotic diseases from animals to humans, especially Covid-19 pandemic. The paper further reveals that pandemic risks can be lowered by reducing human activities that drive loss of biodiversity, and conservation of protected areas. The paper recommends that government should invigorate enforcement of laws in all aspects of illegal wildlife trade and improve community education in disease hotspots about the health risks of wildlife trade.