Planes were grounded, factories stood still, air pollution decreased. On the surface, the environment benefitted from the pandemic. This effect, however, is short-lived. For this reason, a broad coalition between politics, the economy and NGOs in Europe demands the restart of the economy under a green banner. Further to climate protection, the conservation of species is high on the agenda. According to the environmental organization WWF, the unsustainable trade of wild animals following the destruction of their habitats constitutes the second largest threat to biological diversity worldwide. At the same time, the wild animal trade is a direct threat to human health. According to the WHO, COVID-19 is of zoonotic origin – as are 61 percent of all human pathogens. “We’re calling on world leaders to support the closure of high-risk wildlife markets wherever they threaten public health and biodiversity”, says Jan Vertefeuille, Senior Advisor for Advocacy at WWF-US. More public relations work and support for affected countries could contribute to a decline in the demand for wild animal products.