Overcoming the COVID-19 Cash-Strapped Conundrum

A member of parliament recently asked what the South African Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries is doing about current levels of protection in parks looked after by the cash-strapped Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife. This in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic which has forced all government departments to restructure their budgets.

The emergence of zoonotic diseases such as COVID-19 is related to environmental destruction which has led to a decline in global populations of mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles, and fish.