Considering the New Normal
Two years after the worst effects on humans from the Covid-19 pandemic, Anjani Ganase reports on how it affected the natural world. The lessons still to be learned involve reducing human activities to allow nature to thrive. During the 2020 Covid-19 lockdowns, there were numerous reports about the return of wildlife to urban spaces. These were the positive feel-good side notes while we were restricted in lockdown. Much of what was observed reveals the much-needed respite for the natural world from humans. Two years on, scientists have finished crunching the data on the significance of changes observed in natural ecosystems during lockdowns. Here in Trinidad and Tobago, the beaches were closed for over a year. Face mask at surface. Credit: The Ocean Agency / Ocean Image Bank Our carbon footprint Apart from the obvious declines in traffic and congregating, the declines in outdoor activities equated to significant drops in carbon dioxide emissions at a ...