Global commitments for ecosystem restoration are gaining regulatory and public recognition, yet we are faced with an urgent question: How do changes in the landscape shape the risk of infectious diseases?

There is growing evidence that landscape degradation is driving increased rates of spillover from animals and vectors into humans, but it is unclear whether restoring ecosystems can protect against these effects. Restoration creates novel ecological interactions, altering the distribution and abundance of hosts, vectors and pathogens. These shifts may amplify risk during community reassembly or may rebuild resilience and disease dilution effects if restoration also restores ecosystem functioning. This challenge is particularly urgent given that restored environments often still experience anthropogenic pressure.

This session will bring together cutting-edge research and practice to assess the relationship between landscape change and disease and examine when and how landscape or ecosystem restoration may be protective, or risky in terms of disease emergence or spread. Contributions spanning empirical fieldwork, laboratory, modelling, remote sensing, social, economic and ecological drivers, community engagement and policy practice are all welcome, as are new technological approaches including AI.

Because the relationship between disease spillover and landscape change, particularly restoration, is an inter- and transdisciplinary problem, this session will convene expertise across ecology, public health, social sciences, restoration practice and policy. Together, we will identify the conditions under which landscape change supports both biodiversity recovery and planetary health, while recognising the economic and regulatory realities that shape ecological futures.

To foster innovation and mutual learning, the session will feature short oral presentation clusters followed by dynamic inter-cluster panel dialogues, where each cluster pitches to and builds on the next. This format is designed to ignite cross-sectoral conversations, challenge assumptions, and co-create actionable insights on one of the most pressing biodiversity–health challenges of our time.
Co-Conveners Nadja Kabisch, Lena Robra, Adrian Egli