Co-Developing Heritage-sensitive Approaches for Zoonotic Emergence Prevention in Southeast Asia

"The CHAZEP-SEA project (Co-Developing Heritage-sensitive Approaches for Zoonotic Emergence Prevention in Southeast Asia) aims to integrate everyday environmental heritage into One Health strategies to help prevent the emergence and transmission of zoonotic respiratory infections, such as influenza viruses and coronaviruses, in rural areas of Southeast Asia. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, this project focuses on high-risk areas such as Thailand and Lao PDR, where local cultural practices and human-animal-environment interactions are likely to play a crucial role in the emergence and transmission of zoonotic diseases. The core scientific challenge lies in the limited understanding of the social factors and local practices that influence these interactions within the One Health framework. The project is grounded in the premise that everyday environmental heritage-as defined by communities through artifacts, spaces, and practices-can enhance this understanding and contribute to more context-sensitive and participatory prevention strategies. The primary objectives are to co-develop heritage-sensitive approaches to mitigate the risks of zoonotic respiratory disease emergence and transmission by engaging directly with local communities in two national parks in Thailand and Laos over a 12-month period including ethnographic and action research approaches. Additionally, the project seeks to develop a conceptual and methodological framework that integrates environmental heritage into One Health strategies for improved zoonotic disease risk management. The expected outcomes include concrete, community co-designed interventions that will facilitate a more nuanced understanding of local One Health systems and inform targeted responses. Moreover, the project aspires to provide a reference framework for incorporating environmental heritage into international public health policies, ultimately strengthening ecosystem and community resilience to zoonotic threats."