Land use changes driven by human activities significantly contribute to the emergence of infectious diseases and modify the transmission of endemic infections. These changes include deforestation, road construction, agricultural expansion, dam building, irrigation, coastal zone degradation, wetland modification, mining, and urbanization. These changes lead to a cascade of factors that exacerbate infectious disease emergence, such as forest fragmentation, pathogen introduction, pollution, poverty, and human migration. The Working Group on Land Use Change and Disease Emergence, formed after a special colloquium, developed a systems model approach and identified key infectious diseases affected by ecological degradation. The group recommended creating Centers of Excellence in Ecology and Health Research and Training, based at regional universities and research institutes, to provide information on environmental change and public health, facilitate interdisciplinary research, and engage in science-based communication for policy-making. Key recommendations include addressing land-use drivers of infectious disease emergence, the land-water interface, and research and training initiatives. The group emphasized the importance of zoonotic diseases, which are the most significant cause of emerging infectious diseases. They also highlighted the role of agriculture, urbanization, and the land-water interface in disease emergence. The working group proposed a conceptual model to integrate land use into public health policy, emphasizing the need for interdisciplinary research and decision-making tools. They recommended policies to reduce microbial traffic and pathogen pollution, and the establishment of Centers of Excellence to address environmental and health challenges. The group concluded that addressing land use and infectious disease emergence requires a holistic approach, considering the complex interactions between ecosystems, human health, and development.Land use changes driven by human activities significantly contribute to the emergence of infectious diseases and modify the transmission of endemic infections. These changes include deforestation, road construction, agricultural expansion, dam building, irrigation, coastal zone degradation, wetland modification, mining, and urbanization. These changes lead to a cascade of factors that exacerbate infectious disease emergence, such as forest fragmentation, pathogen introduction, pollution, poverty, and human migration. The Working Group on Land Use Change and Disease Emergence, formed after a special colloquium, developed a systems model approach and identified key infectious diseases affected by ecological degradation. The group recommended creating Centers of Excellence in Ecology and Health Research and Training, based at regional universities and research institutes, to provide information on environmental change and public health, facilitate interdisciplinary research, and engage in science-based communication for policy-making. Key recommendations include addressing land-use drivers of infectious disease emergence, the land-water interface, and research and training initiatives. The group emphasized the importance of zoonotic diseases, which are the most significant cause of emerging infectious diseases. They also highlighted the role of agriculture, urbanization, and the land-water interface in disease emergence. The working group proposed a conceptual model to integrate land use into public health policy, emphasizing the need for interdisciplinary research and decision-making tools. They recommended policies to reduce microbial traffic and pathogen pollution, and the establishment of Centers of Excellence to address environmental and health challenges. The group concluded that addressing land use and infectious disease emergence requires a holistic approach, considering the complex interactions between ecosystems, human health, and development.