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Possible negative consequences of a wildlife trade ban

The COVID-19 outbreak has stimulated calls for a global wildlife trade ban. Such actions may only partially curb pandemic risk while negatively affecting people who depend on wildlife. More worryingly, they may provide cover for inaction on issues that would make a true difference in preventing future pandemics.

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Correspondence to Dilys Roe or Tien Ming Lee.

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Peer review information Nature Sustainability thanks Hongxin Wang and the other, anonymous, reviewer(s) for their contribution to the peer review of this work.

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Roe, D., Lee, T.M. Possible negative consequences of a wildlife trade ban. Nat Sustain 4, 5–6 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41893-020-00676-1

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