Legacy of colonial biodiversity exploitation explains poverty in biodiversity-rich countries
Nature provides resources to society, and the diversity of species (think of pollinators, for example) is expected to underpin human economies. So why are the poorest countries also those richest in wildlife, containing a high number of different species? The reason, according to new research, is that colonial exploitation of that biodiversity by now-rich countries created poverty legacies that…
Colonial exploitation of biodiversity in tropical regions has long-lasting impacts on poverty in currently impoverished yet biodiverse countries. Researchers from Trinity College, the University of Bern, and other institutions analyzed data from 168 countries and found that regions targeted by colonial powers were disproportionately rich in species.
This history of resource extraction and forced labor created poverty legacies that endure today through unequal resource trade and weakened governance systems. Poorer biodiverse nations also face disproportionate conservation burdens, often being forced to protect land that limits local livelihoods. The researchers argue that addressing the legacy of colonialism is crucial for effective biodiversity conservation and poverty reduction.
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