Biodiversity Landscape Change and Lyme Disease: Science and Application. EPA Regional Science Workshop, EPA-New England Regional Laboratory, Chelmsford, MA., September 22-23, 2009. Workshop Proceedings

摘要

In the northeast United States, Lyme disease (LD) infection rates and geographic range continue to markedly increase, and new research shows links between land use, biological diversity, and LD transmission. Improved understanding of these links can have an important impact on our understanding of the services provided by natural ecosystems and inform new management strategies to protect the environment and public health. EPA is building partnerships through establishment of a Community of Practice (CoP) around the issue of biodiversity/landscape change and vector-borne (Lyme) disease. It is hoped this CoP will foster closer collaboration between diverse communities, including public health practitioners, land use planners, ecologists, and the public. EPA is interested in addressing public concerns on LD by identifying best management practices related to land use and guidance on individual risk reduction. EPA is working with stakeholders through Green Infrastructural approaches to reduce adverse impacts to the landscape from development, to maintain upland and aquatic habitat integrity, for example, through minimizing forest habitat fragmentation, and to lessen adverse effects on human health. EPA also has a significant role in developing and implementing environmentally based approaches under Integrated Pest Management (IPM) to improve control of vector-borne diseases on a landscape scale while reducing exposures to toxic chemicals.