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Wildlife trade drives declines of over 60% in species abundances
February 15, 2021
Nature Ecology and Evolution
A new paper out by the Scheffers lab has found declines of over 60 per cent in the abundance of species and over 80 per cent in endangered species as a result of legal and illegal wildlife trade.100 million plants and animals are internationally trafficked each year for pets, traditional medicines and luxury foods, with the international wildlife trade worth between $4-20 billion per year. Findings highlight lack of research on the impact of trade compared to other key drivers of extinction like deforestation and overhunting. Research calls for the need for better protective measures for threatened species and management of trade.
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