Self-paced training on UNCTAD’s Trade and Biodiversity (TraBio) statistical tool 

Linking trade and biodiversity 

The importance of the connection between trade and biodiversity could not be overstated. Over 4.3 billion people rely on biodiversity for their livelihoods, with 70% of the poor and vulnerable living in rural areas depending directly on it.  

Biodiversity is also a key part of trade. The UN Trade and Development estimates that trade of biodiversity-based products account for 17% of global trade, amounting to $3.4 trillion in 2021, and representing 7% of the world’s GDP. For developing countries, this trade is essential, representing over $1,4 trillion.  

The adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) recognizes the need for a whole-of-society approach, where trade can also play a key role. Trade can contribute to delivering the Framework’s 23 targets and the four overarching goals by incentivizing environmental, social and economic benefits, alongside promoting sustainable production, consumption and trade.  

However, trade data - particularly related to biodiversity-based products and services - is scattered and not easily accessible to all stakeholders. This affects decision-making not only at government level but also for businesses and civil society. 

What is the TraBio Statistical Tool?  

The TraBio Statistical Tool helps fill this gap. It includes a visualization tool, an online database and a product classification of biodiversity-based products, available at UNCTAD TraBio (for visualization) and UNCTAD Data Centre (for data generation).  

TraBio statistical tool provides information on trade in biodiversity-based products since 2010 for more than 185 economies for over 1,800 biodiversity-based products. 

The tool aims at helping governments, private companies, researchers and other stakeholders to: 

• obtain information useful for their country’s reporting or developing indicators under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF),  

• define the importance of trade of biodiversity-based products to a country’s economy or trade, as well as  

• assess trade patterns and identify emerging market opportunities. 

The TraBio tool has been developed by UNCTAD under the Global BioTrade Programme “Linking Trade, Biodiversity and Sustainable Development”, funded by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs SECO. 

Important links

• To access the visualization part of the UNCTAD Statistical Tool, click here UNCTAD TraBio 
• To access the database and generate data, click here UNCTAD Data Centre.   
• Download the TraBio 2-pager here.
• Get information on the Informal Working Group on trade and biodiversity statistics here.
• What type of information can you obtain from TraBio?  A sample for African’s trade in biodiversity-based products

Training material 

We developed suppor training material to ease the use of the TraBio Statistical tool. 

Webinar on the TraBio Statistical Tool 

On 6 March 2025 from 15:30-17:30 CET, Helvetas hosted the “Trade and Biodiversity (TraBio) Statistical Tool: A Webinar on trade and biodiversity data to support the KMGBF” in collaboration with the UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) BioTrade Initiative. 

Recording of the training in English

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Click here to download the presentation (in English).