Ecosystems provide us with food, water and recreation opportunities. But they may also help to suppress the spread of infectious diseases.

Professor Phil Weinstein, co-director of the Australian Bioactive Compounds Centre, makes the link between biodiversity and human health.

Using Lyme disease and Ross River Virus as examples, Prof Weinstein makes the case that healthy and biodiverse ecosystems can suppress the emergence of infectious diseases.

Not convinced? Watch his seminar and challenge yourself:

This seminar was featured at the Natural Resource Management (NRM) Science Conference, which showcased the science underpinning environmental decision making, policy and management in South Australia.