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Global biodiversity loss from outsourced deforestation

Author

Listed:
  • R. Alex Wiebe

    (Princeton University)

  • David S. Wilcove

    (Princeton University
    Princeton University
    Princeton University)

Abstract

Globalization increasingly allows countries to externalize the environmental costs of land use, including biodiversity loss1. So far, we have a very incomplete understanding of how countries cause biodiversity loss outside their own borders through their demand for agricultural and forestry products grown in other countries2. Here we quantify the global range losses to forest vertebrates from 2001 to 2015 caused by deforestation attributable to 24 developed countries by means of their consumption of products obtained through global supply chains. We show that these driver countries are responsible for much greater cumulative range loss to species outside their own borders than within them. These international impacts were concentrated geographically, allowing us to map global hotspots of outsourced losses of biodiversity. Countries had the greatest external impacts on species occurring in nearby regions. However, in a few cases, developed countries also inflicted disproportionate harm on vertebrates in distant countries.

Suggested Citation

  • R. Alex Wiebe & David S. Wilcove, 2025. "Global biodiversity loss from outsourced deforestation," Nature, Nature, vol. 639(8054), pages 389-394, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:639:y:2025:i:8054:d:10.1038_s41586-024-08569-5
    DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-08569-5
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