Deforestation embodied in global trade: Integrating environmental extended input-output method and complex network...

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Economics
• Network Analysis

Background:

• Global deforestation is an urgent issue, yet current policies often neglect indirect deforestation and consumer responsibilities.
• Existing measures overlook the diverse roles countries play within international trading networks concerning deforestation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify producer and consumer responsibilities for indirect deforestation within global trade.
• To reveal the roles and interrelations of countries in the deforestation trading system.

Main Methods:

• Input-output analysis was employed to quantify embodied deforestation and identify key producers and consumers.
• Complex network analysis was used to construct a network illustrating country interrelations and roles.

Main Results:

• Developed countries (e.g., US, China, Germany) are primary consumers, while heavily forested nations (e.g., Canada, Brazil, Indonesia) are critical providers of embodied deforestation.
• Key countries exhibit high network centrality (degree, strength), dominating trade activities.
• The deforestation trade network displays small-world characteristics and heterogeneity, emphasizing interconnectedness and the influence of central nodes.

Conclusions:

• Policymakers can more effectively combat deforestation by understanding resource flows to and from overlooked economies.
• Highlighting the roles of major consumers and producers in the global trade network is crucial for targeted interventions.