Effective Ways to Promote Sustainability and Eco-Friendly Practices in Your Community

Guest Article provided by Penny Martin

Photo by Freepik

Sustainability is more than just a buzzword—it’s a call to action that begins with individual responsibility and extends to collective impact. By making conscious choices and inspiring those around you, you can become a catalyst for positive environmental change. Your efforts don’t need to be grandiose; even small, consistent actions can ripple through your community and beyond. Here are several impactful ways you can champion eco-friendly practices and sustainability where you live.

Support Local and Sustainable Businesses

One of the easiest ways to promote sustainability is to support businesses that prioritize eco-friendly practices. Farmers’ markets are frequently full of locally grown produce which is of course planet friendly since transporting goods over long distances contributes to emissions. Also, you can seek out shops that offer ethically sourced products or use recycled materials. When you choose these businesses over large corporations with questionable environmental practices, you’re voting with your wallet for a greener economy.

Host and/or Participate in Community Clean-Ups

Organizing or joining a community clean-up can spark significant change in your area. Public spaces like parks, beaches, and streets are often filled with litter, which harm local ecosystems. By gathering volunteers to remove trash, you can help restore these spaces while raising awareness about the consequences of pollution. Community clean-ups are also a great opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals and spark conversations about waste management and sustainability practices.

Encourage Green Infrastructure Projects

Advocating for green infrastructure in your community is another powerful way to promote sustainability. Support the planting of trees, the creation of rain gardens, and the installation of green roofs to combat urban heat islands and improve air quality. These projects beautify neighborhoods, reduce stormwater runoff, and provide habitats for wildlife. You can collaborate with local government or nonprofits to pitch ideas, gather signatures, or even secure funding for eco-friendly infrastructure initiatives.

Leverage Social Media to Share Videos

Creating short, impactful educational videos is an excellent way to share eco-friendly tips on social media and inspire others to adopt sustainable practices. These videos can highlight simple actions, like composting kitchen scraps or switching to reusable bags, in a way that feels approachable and actionable. To streamline the process, use a free video editor to help create videos, allowing you to add audio, adjust video speed, animate elements, and refine your content for maximum engagement.

Reduce and Share Resources

A culture of sharing can minimize waste. For example, establishing a tool library or swap events in your neighborhood can help people access items they need without purchasing new ones. Encouraging carpooling groups or bike-sharing initiatives can cut down on vehicle emissions. Sharing resources not only conserves materials but also strengthens community bonds, making it easier to work together on other sustainability goals.

Educate and Empower Others

Education is a cornerstone of any long-lasting change. Organize workshops or host informational events about topics like composting, recycling, or renewable energy. Partner with schools to introduce sustainability concepts to younger generations through interactive activities. By providing practical knowledge and tips, you empower others to make eco-friendly choices in their daily lives.

Foster Community Gardens and Urban Agriculture

Establishing a community garden is a hands-on way to promote sustainable living. These spaces provide access to fresh, organic produce and teach participants about the benefits of growing food locally. A community garden can serve as a hub for discussions about food security and reducing the carbon footprint of store-bought produce. By involving neighbors in the planning and upkeep, you create a shared responsibility for sustainable practices.

Sustainability doesn’t require perfection, just persistent effort and a willingness to inspire others. By championing eco-friendly practices in your community, you can build a movement rooted in collaboration, education, and shared values. The changes may start small, but together, they lead to a healthier planet for everyone.

Discover the fascinating world of wildlife conservation with Dr. Sharon Deem and explore her groundbreaking work in planetary health and One Health initiatives. Dive into her adventures and insights today!

Pandemics: What have we learned?

Looking back five years later, we might ask what did the COVID-19 pandemic teach us? I was recently asked this question during an interview with St. Louis On the Air at St. Louis Public Radio  https://www.stlpr.org/show/st-louis-on-the-air/2025-03-25/bird-flu-should-be-on-all-our-minds-says-st-louis-zoo-epidemiologist.

I had been invited back to the show by a producer who remembered our conversation On Air in early 2020 https://www.stlpr.org/show/st-louis-on-the-air/2020-01-29/how-the-st-louis-zoo-is-helping-humans-by-helping-animals. You remember early 2020 in the B.C. times – Before COVID? That 2020 interview was 42 days before our town went into lock down. During the interview, I said that this little-known coronavirus (COVID-19) should be on all of our minds. It is possible that during that 20-minute lunch time radio program on January 29, 2020, the majority of people listening may have been thinking that the wildlife veterinarian was overly concerned.

But now 5 years later and with the COVID pandemic officially declared over in May 2023, I was invited back to talk about pandemics and One Health. You may ask, why now?  Most likely it is because of the latest virus in the news. This current zoonoses, with outbreaks globally and with pandemic potential, should be on all of our minds. I am talking about H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza. You may be more familiar with its other name, bird flu.

Bird flu has been around a long time, first described in the late 1800s, and known to be a concern for domestic poultry production. The biology of avian influenza viruses is fascinating, and well worth reading about https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avian_influenza.

So why do I think the latest avian influenza subtype, H5N1, should be on all our minds? Could it be the tens of thousands of marine birds and mammals that have died from this virus https://www.npr.org/sections/goats-and-soda/2025/02/07/g-s1-46402/bird-flu-wild-animals-mammals-virus? Or maybe it is because of the 100s of millions of domestic birds that have been culled because of the virus https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2025-02-26/poultry-culling-hasnt-stopped-h5n1-bird-flu?  Or maybe it is the add-on costs of the outbreak as evident by the price of eggs https://www.thinkglobalhealth.org/article/us-egg-prices-see-largest-jump-1980-bird-flu-outbreaks-continue? Or maybe, just maybe, it is that we know H5N1 can infect humans, has caused human deaths, and if it mutates so that it can spread human to human https://www.cdc.gov/cfa-qualitative-assessments/php/data-research/h5-risk-assessment.html, we should be ready for the next pandemic.

It seems to me that the old adage, prevention is better than the cure fits perfectly with how we should be thinking about H5N1 and other zoonoses with pandemic potential. It just makes sense to prevent a pandemic rather than to treat it after the virus is out of the barn. Data support this adage when we consider the cost of COVID-19 recorded in the millions of human lives lost, livelihoods changed, long COVID health concerns https://sph.cuny.edu/life-at-sph/news/2025/03/19/long-covid-cost/, and trillions of dollars lost in the global economy https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10870589/. 

What do you think we learned from the COVID-19 pandemic? As you may know, the debate and finger pointing continues. I think we learned a lot, but also possibly nothing at all. How we respond right now—today—to the H5N1 bird flu with its pandemic potential may be the key to answering whether we learned a lot, or possibly nothing at all.   

The Plight of a tortoise: Why Care?

Want to learn more about the plight of a tortoise and what you can do to help with its conservation? Check out the blog that Bonnie Raphael, Jamie Palmer, and I wrote. It can be found on the Saint Louis Zoo’s website. Or just use the link here -

https://stlzoo.org/news/zoo-views-the-plight-of-a-tortoise-why-care

Synopsis of the story -

Widespread wildlife trafficking is putting beautiful species of tortoise from Madagascar at risk of extinction.

Radiated tortoises are trafficked for sale as pets, a food delicacy or use of their shells in decor. Historically an estimated 12 million individual radiated tortoises once roamed much of the spiny forests of Madagascar. Today, less than 1.5 million remain and populations continue to rapidly decline.

 There are about 25,000 radiated tortoises recovered from illegal trade living at centers for the nonprofit Turtle Survival Alliance in Southern Madagascar (pictured.)

 The Saint Louis Zoo Institute for Conservation Medicine and Saint Louis Zoo WildCare Institute Center for Chelonian Conservation both support efforts to protect this species. Read more about the risks facing radiated tortoises and what you can do to help from members of the Radiated Tortoise Veterinary Working Group

January is National One Health Awareness Month

Please enjoy the annual January One Health Awareness Month blog. However, this blog is of my January 2023 daily tweets @deemsharon on X. Last year was the fourth year I did daily post that celebrate One Health. Since I am working on a book this month, I won’t be doing daily 2024 One Health posts. That said, last year’s posts are still pertinent in 2024!

Day 1 – What is One Health and why is it important? Check out daily posts of why One Health makes me happy, what we can do to keep amazing animals alive, healthy, and thriving, and how this supports the health of all life. Let’s make 2023 is a year of positive planetary action!

Day 2 - Take 13 minutes to watch the vanishing wild. We must know the problems to find the solutions. Thanks to Dr. Paul R. Ehrlich and colleagues. Loss of biodiversity is an existential threat to all life. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ShrqTLPVE58

Day 3 – One Health is about wildlife conservation, benefits to human health, and care of ecosystems on which all life depends. Check out our very own https://www.forestparklivinglab.org/. We do all these things!

Day 4 – Want to learn how our team of conservationists are taking action in the Galapagos for tortoise, human, and environmental health? Check out our website in either English https://gianttortoise.org/en/ or Spanish https://gianttortoise.org/es/

Day 5 #OneHealth –check out our updated site   https://stlzoo.org/conservation/saint-louis-zoo-institute-for-conservation-medicine  Lots of great stories on our conservation and health work around the world.

Day 6 Check out the good news story of how we are working with our Bolivian colleagues to help save endemic river dolphins in Bolivia.  #OneHealth https://stlzoo.org/blog/whats-a-dolphins-life-worth

Day 7 Learn what my zoo veterinarian friend and colleague is doing to care for wildlife and our planet.

https://www.oklahoman.com/story/lifestyle/2023/01/07/okc-zoo-leader-earns-honor-for-being-champion-of-animal-welfare/69755414007/

 Day 8 Our patients must include elephants as they keep forests, and people around the world, healthy. Forests are the lungs of our planet! We need animal and ecosystem health, if we want human health. Dr. Stephen Blake reminds us of this in his excellent public radio interview!

https://www.stlpr.org/show/st-louis-on-the-air/2023-02-10/critically-endangered-elephants-play-major-role-in-rainforest-conservation

Day 9 - Have you ever wondered what a vulture has done for you lately? Or what humans are doing to vultures? Check out this blog to learn more.

http://www.drsharondeem.com/blog/why-i-love-vultures-and-why-you-should-care-that-they-are-in-trouble

Day 10 – Biodiversity loss is the topic of the day. Check this website, take the exam, see how species loss impacts your health! https://www.embibe.com/exams/loss-of-biodiversity/

Day 11 – Pollinators are important for animal, environmental, and human health.  https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/jan/09/global-pollinator-losses-causing-500000-early-deaths-a-year-study

Day 12 - The news out of Madagascar and biodiversity loss and extinctions is not good https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-64210787 . Something to consider as we all live on an island home—Earth!  

Day 13 - We celebrate the approval of the National One Health Coordination Plan. An important step for response to zoonoses that threaten animal and human health. https://www.avma.org/news/congress-approves-development-national-one-health-coordination-plan-other-veterinary-funding

Day 14 If you are at VMX 2023 during One Health Awareness Month, check out Tuesday’s wildlife session. We will talk about spillover and spillback EIDs and noninfectious diseases of One Health concern

Day 15 Thanks for all you and your team does @rainamontana for understanding emerging infectious diseases in the Anthropocene. https://nature.com/articles/s4158-022-05506-2

Day 16 - As we celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Day, let's consider environmental justice, a social movement to address the unfair exposure of poor, marginalized communities to harms from hazardous waste, resource extraction, and other land uses.

Day 17 – Speaking at VMX2023 on spillover and spillback and emerging infectious diseases of humans and animals, and non-infectious diseases of wildlife. Advancing One Health. Our camels in Kenya studies were part of the day.https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=10155316876837917

Day 18 - People helping turtles, with dogs helping people help turtles. A good news One Health story!

https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/st-louis-zoo-hires-spaniels-to-find-turtles-in-danger/

Day 19 - Today in our One Health semester course, we discussed the interconnected health threats to humans, animals, and plants. Climate change was high on that list. This article helps explain why https://www.inverse.com/science/a-massive-percentage-of-earths-land-creatures-will-be-exposed-to-extreme-heat-soon?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=inverse&utm_campaign=232146b293

Day 20 of One Health Awareness Month is also Penguin Awareness Day! A great day to learn from conservationists, Addie White, as she talks of how balloons and plastics impact wildlife health.  https://youtu.be/MSg4CGwmtC0

Day 21 - I recently listened to Krista Tippett On Being (as I often do!) and was introduced to an amazing conservationist, Dr. Ayana Eliza.  Her work fits with positive One Health energy to find solutions. Check her out! https://www.ayanaelizabeth.com/

Day 22 - Have you heard of the Framing our Future Campaign? Join us as we work for solutions to the challenges that impact human, animal, and ecosystem health. There are nature based solutions! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jl0jG1jm-U0

Day 23 - This week in the Lancet was an issue dedicated to moving One Health forward! Check it out. Excellent information on global solutions to planetary health challenges. https://www.thelancet.com/series/one-health-and-global-health-security

Day 24 - Check out our article on opportunities in higher education that link how biodiversity is important for human health.  https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2021.637901/full

Day 25 - We need biodiversity to help combat climate change

“Save the elephants and help save the planet,” said Blake. “It really is that simple.”

https://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/2023/01/the-voracious-appetite-of-forest-elephants-can-coax-forests-into-storing-more-carbon/

 Day 26 - A good day to consider food security. I give you a story of the link of climate change, changing livestock species, and possible spillover! http://www.drsharondeem.com/blog//are-camels-the-new-cow-of-kenya

Day 27 - We will only achieve global health if we strengthen health security in low and middle-income countries. Check out our 2022 paper on how to do this! Led by Drs. Worsley Tonks and Hassell!  

https://www.thelancet.com/action/showPdf?pii=S2214-109X%2822%2900031-6

Day 28 – Invasive species present major health threats to animals, humans, and ecosystems. Pox virus infectious of this Galapagos mockingbird for example!

Day 29 – COVID-19 is not the last pandemic. We need preventive, One Health approaches to minimize virus spillover. As an epidemiologist, I agree with Dr. Plowright https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2023/01/29/1151039454/9-diseases-virus-epidemiologists-pandemic-potential-who

Day 30 - Thank you Julian Cribb for this essay on our ten catastrophic risks https://humanfuture.org/megarisks, and how and why women leadership may be just what we need to lead! https://mahb.stanford.edu/blog/the-age-of-women/ 

Day 31 As we come to the close of One Health Awareness Month 2023, why not consider expanding your knowledge on our shared health threats and transdisciplinary solutions. https://www.amazon.com/Introduction-One-Health-Interdisciplinary-Planetary/dp/1119382866/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1548273633&sr=8-1&keywords=introduction+to+one+health

Practical Tips to Make Your Small Business More Sustainable

Witten by Penny Martin

In today's fast-paced world, the concept of sustainability has transformed from being just a trend to a necessity. If you're a small business owner, you have the unique opportunity to create positive change in your community and for the environment. Implementing sustainable practices isn't just beneficial for the planet; it can also be good for your bottom line. Through this article, I share eight concrete suggestions for greening your business. You'll learn how to cut down on waste, reduce your carbon footprint, and make a long-lasting difference. Let's dive into making your business more eco-conscious and community-friendly.

Evaluate Your Eco-Impact

Before you embark on any sustainability initiatives, it's important to measure where you stand. It is important to assess how much waste you generate, the energy you consume, and the ways you can can reduce these numbers. By identifying these critical areas, you can set specific goals. It's the first step toward becoming a more responsible business, and can also reveal ways to reduce costs.

Embrace Energy-Saving Solutions

Swapping out older systems for more energy-efficient ones can do wonders. Whether it's LED lighting or programmable thermostats, these changes can reduce your energy bills and your carbon footprint. Research the best options that suit your business needs. Keep track of your utility bills before and after implementing these changes to see tangible results. Incentives and grants are often available for businesses looking to make such improvements.

Develop a Waste Minimization Strategy

To create a truly sustainable business, waste reduction should be on your agenda. Whether it's introducing a robust recycling program or composting organic waste, every bit counts. Don't forget to train your employees and make it easy for them to contribute. The goal is to divert as much waste as possible from landfills, and every team member can play a part in this mission.

Amplify Your Green Initiatives Through Branding and a Logo

Effective marketing strategies can help you in conveying your eco-friendly approach. Among many possibilities, you could use a free business logo design tool to craft a compelling logo that resonates with your sustainability objectives. Being transparent about your initiatives not only builds trust but can also draw in customers who share the same values. Moreover, consider certifying your products as eco-friendly, if applicable, to add credibility to your sustainability claims.

Champion Sustainable Commuting

Promoting alternative commuting options among your staff can reduce your collective carbon footprint. From carpools to public transit, there are numerous ways to commute that are both eco-friendly and good for team morale. To make this easier, you might offer incentives such as transit stipends or bike storage facilities.

Go Paperless with Digital Solutions

Transitioning to digital formats is a simple way to significantly reduce paper usage. Saving documents as PDFs ensures that the content remains consistent across different devices and platforms, making it easily shareable and accessible. Switching to digital alternatives also cuts down on the energy and resources needed to produce, transport, and dispose of paper products.

Opt for Local and Ethical Sourcing

Source your products and services from local businesses whenever feasible. It supports the local economy and minimizes the carbon footprint associated with long-distance shipping. When local options are unavailable, seek out suppliers who adhere to fair trade and ethical practices.

Engage in Green Projects in Your Community

Participation in local eco-friendly projects or sustainability events can amplify your efforts. These activities offer networking opportunities and provide significant visibility for your business. Additionally, this hands-on involvement sets a positive example and could encourage other businesses in your community to take action.

Sustainability in business is not merely an ideal but a viable strategy for long-term growth. When done right, it leads to reduced operational costs, an improved brand image, and a more positive work environment. Through the eight tips outlined in this article, you can instigate meaningful changes that are good for both your business and the environment. Begin your journey toward a more sustainable business model today, and watch your enterprise prosper in a socially and environmentally responsible way.

Dealing with Climate Change Anxiety? Essential Advice for Coping

Written by Penny Martin

Climate change is a real, present crisis and one we're going to have to deal with for many years to come. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) points out that weather and geography patterns have changed dramatically in the last two years alone. This impacts our everyday lives and well-being. If you're feeling stressed about all these changes, we understand. That’s why Dr. Sharon Deem has offered me space to share some tips to help you deal with climate change-related stress. Let's dive right into it.

Relieving Climate-Related Anxiety

If you're feeling anxious or stressed about the climate, it will be critical you take steps to relieve these feelings. After all, environmental issues aren’t going away, and you can't live a life rooted in constant stress. You can get relief for your climate anxiety by being proactive.

Starting an eco-friendly business is one idea. If you go this route, start by nailing down the basics like coming up with a marketing campaign that includes a newsletter. This is a great way to get your message out there! If you aren’t sure where to start, begin in Word, then save your newsletter as a PDF. Then share it on social media!

Fighting your anxiety will include lots of mindfulness practices to help you better appreciate the present. Meditation, journaling, walking instead of driving to run errands, and gratitude practices will all help you achieve this.

Research has shown that physical activities like yoga and other sports are highly effective in reducing stress. Regular physical activity has many benefits, both mental and physical. Good for your health and the planet’s health.

Starting A Nonprofit

It can be challenging to watch climate change unfold as a bystander, but feel powerless to do anything. That's why starting a nonprofit might be a great option, as it will ensure that you're making a difference towards this cause you care so much about. If you've set up a nonprofit, applying for grants and funds is easy to ensure you can take tangible action. When forming a nonprofit, you'll need to create bylaws that detail your operations and goals. This could be information on how your organizationis governed, voting, and rules on conflict of interest.

If you’re interested in aiding wildlife in coping with the effects of climate change, your nonprofit could implement a multifaceted approach that encompasses habitat restoration, species protection, and community engagement. Initiatives could include reforesting areas to create wildlife corridors, which enable animals to safely migrate to more suitable habitats as temperatures and ecosystems shift. Additionally, your organization could collaborate with local governments and agencies to establish protected areas for vulnerable species, ensuring their survival amidst changing conditions. Finally, by involving the local community in educational programs and conservation efforts, your nonprofit can foster a sense of responsibility and stewardship, empowering individuals to make choices that benefit both wildlife and the environment on which we all depend.

Adopting Eco-Friendly Habits

When it comes to climate change, we all have a responsibility to do our part in preserving our planet. We can adopt several eco-friendly habits in our everyday lives to help make a difference. The first is to turn off lights and appliances when they're not in use, which helps conserve energy and helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Installing energy-efficient light bulbs is another excellent way to save electricity.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration notes that heating and cooling our homes accounts for a large portion of energy use. By making simple adjustments like setting the thermostat a few degrees lower in winter and higher in summer, we can help reduce our energy consumption. We can also save energy by using less water. This means turning the faucet off while brushing our teeth, taking shorter showers, and not watering our plants during the warmer hours of the day. There are also resources online if you want to find out more about greener cleaning practices.

Dealing with change can be stressful, but dealing with climate change, in particular, is a whole different beast. It is sure to impact our lives in ways we have thought of and have yet to consider. Be sure to incorporate the tips mentioned above — like starting a nonprofit and staying active. These actions will help you deal with the stressors associated with climate change. Do

Climate change and sex determination of Galapagos tortoises

Enjoy this blog on Sex ratios, climate change, and giant tortoises by Dr. Patrick Moldowan. Patrick provides a great review of the paper by Deem et al (2023) published earlier this year. In the paper, we investigated the roles of nest location and temperature in influencing the sex of hatchling tortoises. The findings from this study offer important information for the conservation of giant tortoises, among other species with temperature sex determination (TSD), in our changing world.

What's a dolphin's life worth?

Want to learn more about the value of a dolphin’s life? Check out the blog from our October 2022 field mission to Bolivia. Working with biologist, veterinarian, and fire fighter (yes, you are reading correctly, fire fighter!) colleagues, we rescued two river dolphins. Here I reflect on this trip and consider the project in the context of our most pressing One Health challenges today.

The blog in English can be found at this link:

What’s a dolphin’s life worth?

Espanol aqui:

?Cuanto vale la vida de un delfin?

A couple photos from the trip to entice you to the blogs.

Return to Betampona, Madagascar

Return to Betampona

As the 10 year anniversary of this trip to Madagascar approaches, I thought it time to share my blog that originally appeared on Dr. Fidisoa Rasambainarivo’s website. In November 2013, I was fortunate to return to Madagascar for a second mission to study the lemurs of Betampona Nature Reserve. I share this mission in the blog link!

Why I love vultures and worry about their future

Did you know?

As a lover of all creatures that fly—well almost all—vultures have been near and dear to my heart for decades. These amazing animals, with 7 species found in the New World and 16 in the Old World, are busy taking care of our environments. They may best be described as the garbage collectors of the planet. They eat dead animals (carrion), helping to keep our environments clean. This valuable ecosystem service is often overlooked by people who might think less of these rather strange looking birds. However, without their freely offered “garbage” services, environments would be less clean. And, this may lead to human diseases increasing in areas with fewer vultures.

Vultures are in trouble

Unfortunately, vultures are in trouble.

The best example of their troubles began in the 1990s with the near extinction of 3 species of vultures in India (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_vulture_crisis). The population crashes of these Gyps ssp. was later found to be caused by the veterinary drug called Diclofenac. (Yes, this is the same Diclofenac you might use for your arthritis!) Amazing detective work unraveled that Diclofenac use in cattle, and vulture consumption of dead cattle that had Diclofenac still in their system, was leading to kidney failure in vultures that ate the cattle. This kidney failure led to the near extinction of 3 species of vultures. The story didn’t end there. What followed was a rise in human rabies cases! With all that carrion (dead cows) in the environment now available since the vultures (garbage collectors) were gone, feral dog numbers increased. Dog-human interactions also increased, and bingo, so did rabies in humans. This is a fascinating One Health story for another day, but also the major driver of why our team decided to explore the causes of morbidity and mortality (sickness and death) of free-living vultures.

Understanding threats to vultures

Ⓒ Cirenia Arias Baldrich 2022

The result is our recently published EcoHealth paper, A Global Review of Causes of Morbidity and Mortality in Free-Living Vultures by Ives et al. (2022). We performed a systematic review of published studies of free-living vulture health from 1969 – 2018. What we found was striking, if not somewhat predictable. Top causes of death were from toxins including Diclofenac (60%), but especially lead and pesticides, followed by traumatic injuries (49%), mostly from collisions with urban infrastructure and gunshot. Additionally, we were able to see where the majority of studies have been conducted, and therefore the areas of the world where we need to increase efforts.

Final thought

You may think, “why should I care about vulture health?” Everyone should care about vulture health and survival! Vultures play a vital role in keeping our environments clean, thus regulating scavenger populations and preventing the spread of disease. They are also incredibly cool creatures that fly.

Citation

Ives, A.M., Brenn-White, M., Buckley, J.Y., Kendall, C.J., Wilton, S., and Deem, S.L. 2022. A Global Review of Causes of Morbidity and Mortality in Free-Living Vultures. EcoHealth. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10393-021-01573-5

January is National One Health Awareness Month

January 2022 was National One Health Awareness Month. During the month we recognized the importance of a collaborative, interdisciplinary—One Health—approach for finding solutions to the public health, environmental, and conservation challenges of the 21st century. In this blog, I share the 31 daily twitter (@deemsharon) posts from the month. It is worth looking back to January 2020 http://www.drsharondeem.com/blog//national-one-health-awareness-month-january-2020, January 2021 http://www.drsharondeem.com/blog/january-2021-was-national-one-health-month , and January 2022 One Health Awareness Months, as we consider the health threats of a global pandemic, social unrest and science denialism related to environmental pressures, climate change, and the continual march of extinctions. We need One Health.

Take a look at the blog. Pick a day at a time, and check out the links.

Day 1 - Want the perfect way to start 2022, and January One Health Awareness Month -

Watch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbIxYm3mKzI

Day 2 - As we prepare for 2022, why not take a look back to One Health Awareness Month January 2020, just before the world was wise to the coming pandemic. http://drsharondeem.com/blog//national-one-health-awareness-month-january-2020

Day 3 - As we approach year three of this #pandemic and continue with #OneHealthAwarenessMonth, hot off the press I share, ways #COVID interferes with #species #conservation as well as #OneHealth opportunities. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/zoo.21669

Day 4 - On Turtle Tuesday, I share our latest conservation work in #Galapagos. Novel viruses are a concern for humans, animals, and plants.   https://www.darwinfoundation.org/en/blog-articles/746-scientists-discover-novel-viruses-in-galapagos-giant-tortoises

Day 5 - Tick Borne Diseases. In this pandemic age, we must remember Lyme disease in the USA to #Heartwater in sub-Saharan Africa, and the 100s of other TBDs, that threaten all health. https://www.cdc.gov/ticks/tickbornediseases/TickborneDiseases-P.pdf

Day 6 - Anti microbial resistance This topic is important around the world, and near and dear to me with the work we do as part of Dr. Nieto Claudin’s PhD to understand impacts of AMRs on Galapagos tortoises and their conservation.

Day 7 Climate Change and human animal environmental health. The recent extreme weather events are just the tip of the iceberg. This NYT article https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/04/climate/animals-seasons-mismatch.html reminds us how confused animals and plants must feel!

Day 8 Why not check out this amazing @KateMessner book and the story of our Galapagos Tortoise Conservation? Using a One Health approach we are discovering secrets of these gentle giants.  https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/29/books/review/sea-lions-in-the-parking-lot-lenora-todaro-annika-siems-tracking-tortoises-kate-messner.html

Day 9 Comparative medicine highlights our shared One Health from infectious (SARS-CoV-2) to non-infectious (toxin exposure and cancer) diseases. Veterinary & human medicine collaborations for wildlife conservation, animal welfare, and public health.

Photo from @E_Clarke_Scie@LabPeffers blog

Day 10 We celebrate organizations around the world working in One Health . How about the decade long science, conservation action, and outreach from the @stlzoo Institute for Conservation Medicine https://www.stlzoo.org/files/4916/3587/7511/ICM_10_Year_Report.pdf

Day 11 Animals as sentinels of ecosystem health – our recently published paper on vulture morbidity and mortality with 60% of deaths from #toxins should be a wake-up call to contaminants in our shared environments https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35000042/

Day 12 explores the links between climate change and food security - two of the major #OneHealth challenges of today. People living on the edge of food security will be hit first, and hardest, with a changing climate.

Day 13 Complex systems and civil society - As we increasingly recognize the complex interconnections of One Health, @LisaSaffran reminds us how storytelling is the tool we need to communicate science! https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/guest-blog/the-essential-role-of-storytelling-in-the-search-for-truth/

Day 14 is on research discovery using a One Health approach - Too many examples for one tweet! This paper by @OneHealthCom  @cstroudOHC and colleagues presents some of these! comparative translational medicine https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1186/s40169-016-0107-4

Day 15 is on disaster preparedness and emergency response. As we enter year 3 of this pandemic, glad for @librarycongress COVID19 : Stronger together with a OneHealth approach webinar https://www.loc.gov/item/webcast-10075/ with @WesternUTMcN @deemsharon and Dr. Durham

Day 16 is on economics and economic benefits of One Health. Need I say more?

Day 17 is on soil-health – If you hope to eat today, you may want to consider soil health, key to plant nutritional value and health, and animal and human health. Learn more at http://www.sare.org

Day 18 celebrates organizations working in One Health. Check out the 2017 @HEC_TV @stlzoo video on some of our #conservation medicine work https://hecmedia.org/posts/animals-humans-and-covid-19-2

Day 19 is on One Health and noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) – such as cancers, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and chronic lung illnesses. In this age of COVID, we often think about zoonotic pathogens. However, chronic NCDs are the number one cause of death and disability in humans globally. And with the growing human footprint impacting environmental health, NCDs impact human and nonhuman animals alike.

Day 20 is on food security, safety, and sustainability. Roles of One Health practitioners to minimize 21st century threats of disasters and transboundary diseases. This is a great read! https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2020.00001/full

Day 21 is all about food. Plants are the key for food, and wildlife species are the key for plants via seed dispersal. We need wildlife for our groceries and for Planetary Health

https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2022/01/fewer-animals-seeds-dispersal-plants-climate-change/

Day 22 Celebrates One Health One Welfare One Planet - thought of my 2018 interview with the one and only Grayson Ponti. Conservation Medicine brings this triad together! https://www.zoophoria.net/single-post/2018/05/02/environmental-health-a-conversation-with-sharon-deem-dvm-phd-dipl-aczm-director-of-the-sa

Day 23 celebrates the Human – Animal Bond. Pets alleviate stress, fight depression, address social isolation and loneliness, improve physical fitness, facilitate healing and resiliency. https://habri.org/blog/top-5-benefits-of-the-human-animal-bond/

Day 24 reminds us to consider the link between human and animal abuse. A tough topic, but one we should address to decrease animal cruelty and human violence. Learn more from @HumaneSociety. https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/animal-cruelty-and-human-violence-faq#connection

Day 25 is on clean water and air - the backbone of #health. #environmental justice will help ensure clean water and air for all life https://earthjustice.org/our_work/clean-air-clean-water

Day 26 is on occupational health risks of working with animals. Might be more important to consider health costs from our disconnect with nature. Perfect timing with NPR piece Check out #1 – “Get back to nature – stat!” https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2022/01/25/1074100175/readers-global-wishes-for-2022-more-kindness-more-nature-and-kitties

Day 27 is on One Health and Wildlife – So much to say about this! We NEED wildlife for #ecosystem services; if we treat wildlife badly we have spillover; wildlife makes us happy; so much more... This TEDx reminds us of all these https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=weXJBFai5Os

Day 28 is on One Health and water security. Check out @stlzoo Institute for Conservation Medicine work on camel health and welfare in the climate changing, water scarce, landscape of Kenya.

Day 29 is on K12 Education – we have led turtle safaris with 1000s of kids to learn about animal, human and environmental health. Some kids even wrote a book based on Georgette the turtle that lived!  https://www.kbia.org/missouri-news/2019-02-06/researchers-say-goodbye-to-georgette-a-very-tough-turtle#stream/0

Day 30 is for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals put forward in 2015 and shared so well in this United Nation 75th Anniversary Film https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVWHuJOmaEk Well worth a watch!

Day 31 So this just happened - road blocks continue to exclude “Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any State on account of sex.” Gender equality is a One Health issue https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/01/31/never-ending-fight-over-whether-include-equal-rights-amendment-constitution/