More than one in three trees globally is at risk of extinction, according to a new report by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). This alarming trend threatens life on Earth as we know it, with endangered trees outnumbering threatened birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians combined.
In South America, where the majority of the world’s trees are found, 25% face extinction, while Africa, despite having fewer trees, sees 45% at risk. Hilton-Taylor highlights that the primary threats include deforestation, habitat loss due to expanding agriculture, invasive species, and climate change.
Trees now represent over a quarter of the species listed in the IUCN Red List, emphasizing the urgency for action. Hilton-Taylor stresses, “Species are declining. Unless we act now, we risk losing them forever.”
Kevin Martin from the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew points out that rapid climate change poses significant challenges for trees, which struggle to adapt quickly.
The IUCN advocates for forest protection and restoration, including tree planting and conservation efforts via seed banks and botanical gardens. Their first Global Tree Assessment coincides with the UN’s COP16 biodiversity summit in Colombia.
Craig Hilton-Taylor, head of the IUCN’s Red List Unit, states that out of approximately 47,000 tree species assessed, 38% are threatened. He emphasizes the vital role trees play in global biodiversity, livelihoods, and essential ecological cycles.