Mapping the global dimensions of US wildlife imports

Abstract

The United States is one of the world’s largest importers of wildlife, yet the geographic footprint of this trade — where imported species actually originate — remains poorly mapped. We trace two decades of U.S. wildlife import records back to their countries and ecosystems of origin, identifying major gaps in global wildlife trade monitoring and pinpointing the source regions facing the greatest biodiversity pressure from U.S. consumer demand. Our findings highlight the need for improved international data-sharing and targeted conservation investment in these high-pressure source regions.