Their role is vital in the control of wildlife diseases, conservation of endangered wildlife species, and preservation of animal biodiversity that enriches the quality of human life. In the area of environmental toxicology and epidemiology, veterinarians are on the forefront of environmental research, assessing the health hazards of environmental pollutants, identifying environmental carcinogens, discovering mechanisms of hazardous pollutants action, and establishing cause and effect relationships. In the area of ecosystem health, veterinarians are engaged in interdisciplinary research on animal health and ecological integrity in a variety of ecosystems, from cities, to farms, to wilderness. Their range of activities include, water quality for fisheries and aquaculture, reducing pesticide use on livestock and pets, effects of environmental toxins on wildlife reproduction, and infectious diseases in endangered species populations. For continued progress in environmental health, veterinary researchers must have increased funding for competitive grants in ecosystem health research.
Veterinarians are active team members in organized responses to environmental disasters worldwide.
Veterinarians are often the first to detect and contain newly emerging environment related diseases such as Lyme disease in dogs, pesticide deaths in birds, rabies resurgence in wildlife, mercury contamination in fish and their predators, lead poisoning in wildlife, and dioxin poisoning in horses. Integrated multidisciplinary research on ecosystem health which includes animal health aspects in various ecosystems urban, agricultural, and wilderness. Improved understanding and control of animal health effects associated with habitat loss, over crowding, environmental contamination, exotic species introductions, reintroduction of endangered species, disease transmission in habitat corridors, and ecological restoration projects. Cost effective methods for environmentally sustainable agriculture. Improved national capacity for ecosystem health research and education.