FOREST FRAGMENTATION, BIODIVERSITY LOSS, AND THE EMERGENCE OF NEW ZOONOSES: AN INTEGRATED ANALYSIS OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND ECOSYSTEM BALANCE

Abstract

Forest fragmentation is one of the main processes driving landscape transformation, caused by agricultural expansion, urbanization, and natural resource exploitation, leading to habitat reduction and isolation. This chapter aims to analyze the relationship between forest fragmentation, biodiversity loss, and the emergence of new zoonotic diseases, adopting an integrated perspective between environmental health and ecosystem balance. The methodology is based on a qualitative literature review, examining recent studies in ecology, epidemiology, and the One Health framework. The results show that fragmentation disrupts ecological dynamics, reduces native species populations, and promotes opportunistic species, increasing interactions among wildlife, domestic animals, and humans. This condition enhances the emergence and reemergence of zoonotic pathogens, including viruses and bacteria with epidemic potential. It is concluded that maintaining forest connectivity is essential for biodiversity conservation and disease prevention, highlighting the need for integrated policies linking environmental protection and public health.