Spatially Explicit Analysis of Biodiversity Loss Due to Global Agriculture, Pasture and Forest Land Use from a Producer and Consumer Perspective

Anthropogenic
land use to produce commodities for human consumption
is the major driver of global biodiversity loss. Synergistic collaboration
between producers and consumers in needed to halt this trend. In this
study, we calculate species loss on 5 min × 5 min grid level
and per country due to global agriculture, pasture and forestry by
combining high-resolution land use data with countryside species area
relationship for mammals, birds, amphibians, and reptiles. Results
show that pasture was the primary driver of biodiversity loss in Madagascar,
China and Brazil, while forest land use contributed the most to species
loss in DR Congo and Indonesia. Combined with the yield data, we quantified
the biodiversity impacts of 1 m3 of roundwood produced
in 139 countries, concluding that tropical countries with low timber
yield and a large presence of vulnerable species suffer the highest
impact. We also calculated impacts per kg for 160 crops grown in different
countries and linked it with FAO food trade data to assess the biodiversity
impacts embodied in Swiss food imports. We found that more than 95%
of Swiss consumption impacts rest abroad with cocoa, coffee and palm
oil imports being responsible for majority of damage.