Nature Bounce Back: Impacts of Novel Covid-19 Pandemic on Environmental Pollution and Biodiversity

Abstract

The outbreak of the novel coronavirus infection, COVID-19 was initiated from the seafood market in Wuhan city of China in December 2019 and within a couple of months it turned out to be a pandemic and global health emergency. Due to increased human activity, transportation, industrialization and urbanization create a detrimental effect on the global environment in terms of air pollution, water pollution, noise pollution, soil pollution, climate change, ozone layer depletion and change of biodiversity and ecosystem. The reduction of air pollution was strongly associated with travel restrictions and industrial shutdown during this pandemic so that on average, the air quality index (AQI) and five air pollutants (PM2.5, PM10, NO2, aerosol and carbon emissions) have decreased. During the ongoing lockdown, nature has started to revive itself. Rare birds and animals have starting to come out of hiding. People residing near Yamuna River in Delhi, India say that the water is cleaner due to the lockdown. The dip in air pollution is leading to clearer skies and migratory birds can fly freely without human interference or threat. It all seems like nature is taking a breath of fresh air with the lack of human activity. The present study discusses the indirect impact of covid-19 pandemic on environment and nature. It also describes the behavioral changes of arial, aquatic and terrestrial life during the lockdown period.