Reducing the risk of zoonotic spillover in protected and conserved areas requires coordinated action across conservation, veterinary and public health sectors. To strengthen this capacity, a practical One Health and biosafety training was held in Tashkent, 21–22 September, bringing together protected area professionals and specialists in wildlife, livestock, ecosystem and human health from across Uzbekistan.
Zoonotic spillover occurs when a pathogen passes from a wild or domestic animal to a person. Reducing opportunities for transmission means understanding and managing risks where wildlife, livestock, people and their shared environment interact, in line with the One Health approach.
“Nature conservation is an important part of the One Health approach. By maintaining healthy ecosystems and wildlife populations, and better understanding where wildlife, livestock and people interact, we can help prevent and reduce the risk for zoonotic disease spillover,” said Dao Nguyen, Senior Programme Manager, IUCN Conservation Action. “Protected areas and the people who manage and study them have a pivotal role to play in connecting biodiversity conservation with wider health security.”
Uzbekistan has identified eight priority zoonotic diseases through its national One Health prioritisation process: Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever, anthrax, rabies, brucellosis, zoonotic tuberculosis, plague, influenza and echinococcosis. The training used these and other country-specific examples to explore potential disease risks at the human–animal–environment interface and the role of protected area personnel in recognising and reporting them.
“People working directly with wildlife such as rangers, inspectors and researchers are often the first to observe unusual animal behaviour, illness or mortality. Strengthening their ability to recognise risks, document observations and communicate them quickly to the appropriate authorities can make an important contribution to early warning and coordinated response,” said Elena Bykova, Senior Researcher at the Institute of Zoology of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan. “Sometimes, as practitioners and researchers, we underestimate the risks of zoonotic spillover and may overlook important biosafety measures in our day-to-day work. Trainings like this are essential for helping us better understand the risks we face, strengthen our awareness, and ensure that appropriate biosafety practices become a routine part of our work.”
Around 20 participants took part in the training, including rangers, inspectors and researchers from the Saigachiy Complex Landscape Nature Reserve, Yuzhny Ustyurt National Park, Chatkal State Biosphere Reserve and Zarafshan National Park. They were joined by representatives and experts from the National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change, the Institute of Virology, the Institute of Zoology of the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan, and the Agency for the Development of Livestock and Pasture Economy.
Through technical sessions, practical exercises and realistic scenarios, participants explored biosecurity practices, safe animal handling, surveillance and early warning, outbreak investigation and wildlife disease risk analysis, as well as sustainable tourism and community interfaces. Hands-on exercises included the selection and safe use of personal protective equipment and assessing risks associated with wildlife mortality event. The training also introduced relevant IUCN One Health guidance and its practical application in protected and conserved areas. “I am very pleased that the One Health and Biosafety training programme was conducted in Uzbekistan, as it addresses issues that are highly relevant to both local communities and nature conservation. Our park is long and narrow, is not fenced, and borders human settlements, where livestock can enter the park and interact with wildlife. We also face challenges from stray dogs, which can pose a risk of disease transmission. I hope this programme will strengthen our capacity to manage these risks and support healthier ecosystems, wildlife and communities,” said Alexandra Zaslavskaya, Science Officer from Zarafshan National Park.
“Reducing the risk of zoonotic spillover works best when everyone understands both their own role and when to involve others,” said Dr Marc Valitutto, Wildlife Veterinarian and Biosafety Officer, One Health Science who led the training. “A protected area worker may be the first to observe something unusual, a veterinarian may investigate its animal-health implications, and public health specialists may assess potential risks to people. The goal is to ensure that information moves quickly and safely to those best placed to respond.”
The training concluded with an exercise in which participants developed One Health action plans for
their protected areas. Drawing on the field exercise and knowledge gained over the two days, they identified practical steps to strengthen surveillance, manage potential spillover risks and improve coordination between conservation, research and biosafety professionals.