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Human footprint in biodiversity hotspots
Author(s) -
Weinzettel Jan,
Vačkář David,
Medková Helena
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
frontiers in ecology and the environment
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.918
H-Index - 164
eISSN - 1540-9309
pISSN - 1540-9295
DOI - 10.1002/fee.1825
Subject(s) - biodiversity , ecosystem , natural resource economics , threatened species , consumption (sociology) , ecological footprint , biodiversity hotspot , agriculture , footprint , natural resource , environmental resource management , ecosystem services , business , environmental science , geography , ecology , economics , sustainability , biology , archaeology , social science , sociology , habitat
Natural ecosystems are disappearing at an increasing rate, and disappearing along with them is the immense biodiversity they contain. In addition to direct factors influencing the conversion of natural ecosystems to agriculture, international trade and consumption of products in wealthy countries have also been implicated as drivers of ecosystem change. We used quantitatively advanced methods to connect loss of potential net primary production ( NPP ) in global biodiversity hotspots to its ultimate driver – final consumption (eg consumption by households and government) – and identified the origins of agricultural products through global supply chains to quantify spatial impacts on the potential photosynthetic production of natural ecosystems. Using embodied potential NPP equivalents, we estimated the footprint of final consumption on ecosystems in the most threatened biodiversity hotspots. Our results contribute to the identification of conservation priorities from the perspective of consumer responsibility.