While it’s long known that intensive land use in tropical areas has severely impacted local biodiversity, the role of trade has been undervalued. Earlier, agricultural exports were estimated to cause 20 to 30 percent of biodiversity loss in the tropics.
Now, researchers from the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and the ETH Zurich have considered international trade responsible for more than 90 percent of the biodiversity loss. The loss caused between 1995 and 2022 is due to the conversion of natural areas into agricultural land.
Unlike the older models that did not consider fallow areas, permanent species loss, and ecosystem recovery time, the new model uses satellite data to assess the entire development of an area, including after farming ceased. This model also considers trade flows and their impact on different regions.
Due to increased agricultural exports, over 80 percent of land use changed in Latin America, Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific. The leading importers of these goods are China (26 percent), the USA (16 percent), the Middle East (13 percent), and Europe (8 percent). Hotspots like Brazil, Indonesia, Mexico, and Madagascar recorded over 50 percent loss due to the change in land use.
“This is an alarming finding, as the threat to global biodiversity per square meter in tropical regions is a hundred times higher than in the importing countries,” says Livia Cabernard.
Land use is the primary driver of biodiversity loss and extinction. The tropical region is a notable area experiencing habitat destruction for agricultural use. Though land-use changes can reduce biodiversity impacts, it is crucial to avoid deepening impacts by outsourcing agri-food supply chains to biodiversity hotspots.
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Outsourcing agriculture has several advantages for importing countries. Since less land will be used for agriculture, the negative impact on biodiversity will decrease. Moreover, additional efforts could be taken for conservation and restoration.
“The connections between global trade and biodiversity loss are highly complex but of great importance. We need to think about environmental impacts on a global scale and combine various measures to develop effective levers,” mentions the study.
“Supporting domestic agriculture in countries like Germany and Switzerland, ensuring transparent supply chains, and pricing that reflects ecological damage would be important steps to avoid species loss in these hotspots.“
Journal Reference
- Cabernard, L., Pfister, S., & Hellweg, S. (2024). Biodiversity impacts of recent land-use change driven by increases in agri-food imports. Nature Sustainability, 7(11), 1512-1524. DOI: 10.1038/s41893-024-01433-4