In recent years, conservation approaches that promote strict separation of humans and nature have fallen under criticism, largely owing to their disregard for rural and Indigenous communities who manage and depend on protected areas. However, against the backdrop of Covid-19 – a zoonotic crisis that forcefully illustrates the dangers of human intrusion into wildlife habitats – many have raised the call to fortify the world’s remaining biodiversity refuges.
In this paper, the German Development Institute examines the burdens that Covid-19 has placed on protected areas, anticipating future threats to their sustainability, while prompting much needed discussion on their role and shape going forwards.
