TED: How to stop the next pandemic? Stop deforestation | Neil Vora

The speaker, a doctor with a unique career in saving forests, discusses the flaws in reactive public health approaches and emphasizes the importance of preventing outbreaks by addressing deforestation. They highlight the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health, and share success stories of combating deforestation. The talk underscores the need for collaborative efforts across health, climate, and conservation sectors to prevent future pandemics and slow climate change.

What unique career path did the speaker take after completing their medical training?

• Joined a pharmaceutical company

• Specialized in saving forests

• Became a surgeon

• Started a private practice

What is a major flaw in the current approach to public health according to the speaker?

• Reactive rather than preventive measures

• Lack of funding

• Over-reliance on technology

• Too much focus on vaccines

What event is believed to have started the West African Ebola epidemic?

• Illegal wildlife trade

• A virus spillover from bats to a child

• Deforestation for urban development

• A bat hunting festival

How does deforestation contribute to the spread of diseases?

• It increases air pollution

• It reduces biodiversity

• It forces animals to migrate to urban areas

• It brings humans closer to wildlife

What was a key strategy used in Brazil to reduce deforestation?

• Promoting urbanization

• Increasing agricultural subsidies

• Using satellite monitoring and returning land to indigenous peoples

• Banning all logging activities

What approach did the nonprofit Health and Harmony use to address deforestation in Indonesian Borneo?

• Providing financial incentives for deforestation

• Radical listening to community needs

• Strict enforcement of logging laws

• Importing foreign agricultural techniques

What is the speaker's view on the relationship between human, animal, and environmental health?

• They are interconnected and should be treated as one

• They are separate and unrelated

• Human health is more important

• Animal health is more important