The Hidden Web of Biodiversity Loss: Who's Importing What?

Biodiversity is key to keeping ecosystems healthy and achieving sustainable goals. But, unfortunately, biodiversity loss is a global issue. Researchers used data from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the Eora database to calculate biodiversity loss in 188 countries. They created a global network to understand how biodiversity loss moves around. This network has a typical structure with many connections, showing that biodiversity loss is related to where countries are located. The countries that "import" the most biodiversity are developed and large-scale emerging economies. They transfer the loss to developing countries, especially those in Africa. The network is divided into different blocks, each with its own function. Factors like geographical location, wealth, city size, environmental rules, and farmland play a role in how biodiversity loss moves around. Only 3. 627% of the changes in the network can be explained by these factors. Policymakers should consider these relationships to tackle biodiversity challenges. Governments need to recognize their part in biodiversity loss, reduce unsustainable habits, promote fair trade, and make policies that consider the impact on biodiversity.