Relevance of the topic

The impact of water and air quality on the health and well-being of living beings is unquestionable, as both are the means by which various pollutants, such as parasites, microplastics, heavy metals, chemical compounds, among others, can reach humans and other animals and cause negative effects, including infectious and chronic diseases or even death. Factors such as water treatment and use patterns, activities that release air pollutants, population growth, climatic events and disasters, among many others, contribute to the emergence or increase of these pollutants.

The One Health approach recommends a holistic approach to address such complex situations where many variables are unpredictable or impossible to prevent. Therefore, knowledge or information generated through research or monitoring is essential in order to identify the different

Group Objectives

• To promote bi- and tri-national monitoring for the collection and exchange of information on water and air quality in the Selva Maya.

• To map contamination hotspots and develop know-how on the risks of respiratory and water-borne diseases due to anthropogenic pollution (e.g. forest fires, pesticide use in palm oil plantations) in the Selva Maya.

Importance of the working group for the Selva Maya

The Selva Maya is under severe pressures from climate change and human-induced activities that contribute to water and air pollution; resulting in an increased threat to wildlife welfare, ecosystem health, water cycle intactness and human health through the spread of respiratory and water-borne diseases.