Out of the Woods? The Long-Term Costs of Biodiversity Loss for Brazil’s Agricultural Sector
Year: 2025
Type: report
Abstract: This paper constructs a novel biodiversity dataset for Brazil, measuring the annual change in species richness during 1985-2020 at 300m resolution. It then uses a spatio-temporal ARDL model to establish the long-run effects of bio-diversity loss on agricultural yields. Brazil lost 8 percentage points in species richness compared to an undisturbed baseline during 1985-2020, largely driven by substantial reductions in regions bordering the Amazon. Long-run crop yields decreased up to 4% for every percentage point in biodiversity loss, and up to 10% when considering pest control species. Resulting soybean and maize yield decreases reduced agricultural GDP by 15.3% in 2020.
Source: Apollo (University of Cambridge)
DOI: 10.17863/cam.119657
Author: Widmaier, A.
Language: English
Subfield: Global and Planetary Change
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
SDGs: Life on land, Zero hunger
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W6944247191
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