February 15, 2026 | 12:48 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Deforestation not only triggers an environmental crisis but also poses a serious threat to human health. The permanent loss of forest cover has been shown to increase mosquito populations and the risk of disease transmission, especially in former forest areas that are now residential areas.
Deforestation is the process of permanent loss of forest cover due to human intervention. This activity irreversibly converts forested areas into non-forest land and eliminates the forest's ecological functions.
"Forests play a primary role as habitats for flora and fauna, balancing the water cycle, and regulating the climate. When forests disappear, all of these functions disappear," said Upik Kesumawati Hadi, an entomologist at IPB University, in a written statement on Sunday, February 15, 2026.
Deforestation, she said, generally occurs in forest areas directly adjacent to or is caused directly by human activities, such as agriculture, plantations, mining, and settlements. According to her, the conversion of forest areas for specific purposes results in the permanent loss of vegetation and forest ecosystems.
"The most serious impact of this situation is the loss of natural habitats for flora and fauna, especially endemic species. Continued deforestation can lead to the inevitable extinction of various living creatures," said the professor at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine.
Mosquito Populations
Upik said that forest loss also directly impacts mosquito behavior. When natural wildlife habitats are destroyed, mosquitoes lose their natural hosts and shift to biting humans. "Humans living in former forest areas become the easiest targets as their primary blood source," she said.
Numerous research reports show that areas with high levels of deforestation have more abundant mosquito populations and a greater risk of disease. This is because reduced biodiversity eliminates natural buffers for disease transmission. "Therefore, humans increasingly become the primary blood source for opportunistic mosquitoes."
Mosquitoes are known to be vectors of various dangerous diseases, such as dengue fever (DHF), Zika, chikungunya, zoonotic malaria, and yellow fever. "This situation serves as a warning that forest destruction is not only an environmental crisis, but also a real threat to human health," Upik emphasized.
As preventative measures, Upik emphasized reforestation and reforestation, forest monitoring through authorities and satellite technology, and firm law enforcement coupled with public education. He also highlighted the need for active community participation in supporting forest conservation, from environmental campaigns to the wise and responsible use of forest resources.
Read: Study Finds Online Public Anger Over Deforestation in Sumatra
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