Global Trade Plays Key Role in Species Threats

Global Trade Plays Key Role in Species Threats

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Nearly a third of animal species under threat in developing nations can be linked to global trade of manufactured goods and commodities such as sugar, coffee and cocoa, researchers concluded in a study led by the University of Sydney.

Policies aimed at curbing threats to species should take into account not only local producers who degrade the land but also foreign consumers who benefit from products at the expense of the habitat, the scientists said, adding that America, the European Union and Japan are the main destinations for commodities associated with species threats, while Indonesia and Malaysia are among the biggest exporters. “To combat biodiversity loss, policies aimed at producers, traders and consumers must be implemented in parallel,” the authors wrote.