Ecosystem

Business

Biology

Biodiversity

Biodiversity hotspot

Economics

Geography

Natural resource economics

Ecology

Programming language

Rainforest

Deforestation (computer science)

Bushmeat

Computer science

Amazon rainforest

Wildlife

Environmental science

Tropics

Agroforestry

Biome

Nature Ecology & Evolution

Deforestation, a significant threat to biodiversity, is accelerated by global demand for commodities. Although prior literature has linked deforestation to global supply chains, here we provide a fine-scale representation of spatial patterns of deforestation associated with international trade. Using remote sensing data and a multi-region input–output model, we quantify and map the spatiotemporal changes in global deforestation footprints over 15 years (2001–2015) at a 30-m resolution. We find that, while many developed countries, China and India have obtained net forest gains domestically, they have also increased the deforestation embodied in their imports, of which tropical forests are the most threatened biome. Consumption patterns of G7 countries drive an average loss of 3.9 trees per person per year. Some of the hotspots of deforestation embodied in international trade are also biodiversity hotspots, such as in Southeast Asia, Madagascar, Liberia, Central America and the Amazonian rainforest. Our results emphasize the need to reform zero-deforestation policies through strong transnational efforts and by improving supply chain transparency, public–private engagement and financial support for the tropics. The authors use economic input–output modelling to reveal how consumption patterns contribute to deforestation domestically and internationally across nations.

Mapping the deforestation footprint of nations reveals growing threat to tropical forests