biostudies-literatureReaser JKDefense Advanced Research Projects AgencyU.S. Department of AgricultureNational Science Foundatione13357https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC7995086biostudies-literatureUnknown29(4)Ecological restoration should be regarded as a public health service. Unfortunately, the lack of quantitative linkages between environmental and human health has limited recognition of this principle. The advent of the COVID-19 pandemic provides the impetus for further discussion. We propose ecological countermeasures as highly targeted, landscape-based interventions to arrest the drivers of land use-induced zoonotic spillover. We provide examples of ecological restoration activities that reduce zoonotic disease risk and a five-point action plan at the human-ecosystem health nexus. In conclusion, we make the case that ecological countermeasures are a tenet of restoration ecology with human health goals.Restoration ecologyEcological countermeasures for preventing zoonotic disease outbreaks: when ecological restoration is a human health imperative.PMC7995086D18AC00031PREEMPT D18AC00031NIFA Hatch 1015891DEB‐1716698Reaser JKWitt ATabor GMHudson PJPlowright RKfalseEcological countermeasures for preventing zoonotic disease outbreaks: when ecological restoration is a human health imperative.Ecological restoration should be regarded as a public health service. Unfortunately, the lack of quantitative linkages between environmental and human health has limited recognition of this principle. The advent of the COVID-19 pandemic provides the impetus for further discussion. We propose ecological countermeasures as highly targeted, landscape-based interventions to arrest the drivers of land use-induced zoonotic spillover. We provide examples of ecological restoration activities that reduce zoonotic disease risk and a five-point action plan at the human-ecosystem health nexus. In conclusion, we make the case that ecological countermeasures are a tenet of restoration ecology with human health goals.2021-01-01T00:00:00Z2021 May2025-04-29T11:28:02.357Z2025-04-06T19:54:58.226ZS-EPMC79950863378599810.1111/rec.13357