In brief
Researchers report that 107,356 species are traded globally, far exceeding earlier figures of about 50,000. The study, led by Professor Alice Hughes, calls for standardized data collection to better assess trade sustainability. The lack of current information hampers efforts to protect biodiversity.
In Melbourne, Australia, researchers announced that more than 107,000 species are used and traded worldwide, a figure that more than doubles prior estimates. The study, published in the journal Science Advances, was conducted by scientists at the University of Melbourne and points to significant gaps in global monitoring of wildlife trade.
Earlier analyses had suggested that around 50,000 species were involved in the global trade network. That figure had been widely regarded as the upper limit of species impacted by commercial exchange of plants, animals and fungi.
According to the new research, the actual number reaches 107,356 species that move across borders for purposes such as timber, seafood, medicinal plants, pets and ornamental fish. The breadth of this trade extends far beyond the well‑known illegal markets for elephants, tigers and pangolins.
Lead researcher Professor Alice Hughes explained that the diversity of traded species is vast: “For most of these species we have little to no data. There is no data on quantity and origins, let alone the population level data to assess if trade poses a risk to species survival.”
Hughes highlighted that very few species in trade benefit from comprehensive population monitoring. She noted that the existing global biodiversity framework covers only about two or three percent of species, and that 97 percent are not represented in current trade assessments.
The lack of quantitative information makes it difficult to gauge whether certain trade practices are sustainable or threatening to species survival. The study therefore emphasizes the need for new, standardized data collection protocols that could be incorporated into existing systems.
Researchers suggested that customs and animal health inspection processes, which already exist in many countries, could be adapted to capture essential trade data. Such alignment would create a more coordinated, transparent reporting mechanism across borders.
“Standardizing data collection and reporting would help countries determine the true extent and impact of wildlife trade,” Hughes added. “Such information is essential for protecting biodiversity and managing trade sustainably.”
The University of Melbourne’s findings underscore that the current picture of wildlife trade is incomplete. With more than double the number of species at stake, global efforts to regulate and monitor trade are urgently required to safeguard ecosystems worldwide.
