It has long been recognized that intensive agricultural practices in tropical areas affect local biodiversity, but the influence of trade has been underappreciated, according to researchers from Technical University of Munich (TUM) and ETH Zurich.
Previously, it was estimated that 20 to 30 percent of biodiversity decline in these regions resulted from agricultural exports.
Livia Cabernard, Professor of Sustainability Assessment of Food and Agricultural Systems at TUM, with colleagues Stephan Pfister and Stefanie Hellweg from ETH Zurich, have uncovered that international trade is responsible for more than 90 percent of the biodiversity loss observed from 1995 to 2022, primarily driven by the transformation of natural landscapes into agricultural land.
The research team utilized data that disaggregates the global economy into various sectors, regions, and ecological effects. One notable divergence from earlier studies is that the researchers incorporated satellite data to consider the entire progression of a region, including after agricultural activity has ended.
Previous models did not factor in these fallow areas, failing to capture the permanent loss of species and the duration required for an ecosystem to recover. The model also illustrates trade flows and their impact on land utilization across different regions.
They found that over 80 percent of land use changes in Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific during the study period were driven by surging agricultural exports. The main importers of these goods include China (26 percent), the USA (16 percent), the Middle East (13 percent), and Europe (8 percent).
Critical hotspots of biodiversity loss identified include Brazil, Indonesia, Mexico, and Madagascar, regions experiencing over half of global species loss due to land conversion. In Madagascar and Brazil, land is predominantly used for livestock, while in Indonesia, rice and palm oil dominate. Mexico focuses largely on producing vegetables, nuts, and fruits. The findings underscore the urgent need to reconsider the role of global trade in conservation efforts.
For many importing countries, outsourcing agriculture has apparent advantages: the negative impacts on domestic biodiversity decreased as less land was used for agriculture, and there was an increase in conservation and restoration measures. This applies to countries like Spain, Italy, Greece, and the USA. At the same time, although biodiversity losses due to domestic consumption have decreased in Brazil and Mexico, overall losses have increased due to rising agricultural exports.
“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.
The species loss resulting from this situation has been overlooked as a significant issue.
“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. 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:
- Livia Cabernard, Stephan Pfister & Stefanie Hellweg. Biodiversity impacts of recent land-use change driven by increases in agri-food imports. Nature Sustainability, 2024; DOI: 10.1038/s41893-024-01433-4
