Publications by authors named "Christopher D West"
Article Synopsis
- Understanding the effects of cash crop expansion, especially natural rubber, on forests is crucial, yet existing global maps are lacking and deforestation impacts have been largely based on models rather than actual data.
- Using Earth observation satellite data, researchers created high-resolution maps revealing that deforestation caused by rubber farming has been significantly underestimated in policies and reports.
- With over 4 million hectares of forest lost to rubber cultivation since 1993, including critical biodiversity areas, it's essential for policymakers to address rubber's impact on ecosystems and biodiversity in future legislation.*
Consumption of globally traded agricultural commodities like soy and palm oil is one of the primary causes of deforestation and biodiversity loss in some of the world's most species-rich ecosystems. However, the complexity of global supply chains has confounded efforts to reduce impacts. Companies and governments with sustainability commitments struggle to understand their own sourcing patterns, while the activities of more unscrupulous actors are conveniently masked by the opacity of global trade.
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