State Of The World’s Trees Report
Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) launched the State of the World’s Trees Report.
- The report warns that almost a third of the world’s tree species are at risk of extinction, while hundreds are on the brink of being wiped out.
- BGCI is a membership organisation, representing botanic gardens in more than 100 countries around the world.
- It is an independent UK charity established in 1987 to link the botanic gardens of the world in a global network for plant conservation.
Species Under Threat:
- 17,500 tree species which is some 30% of the total – are at risk of extinction, while 440 species have fewer than 50 individuals left in the wild.
11% of the flora or plant life of every country was made up of threatened species. - Overall the number of threatened tree species is double the number of threatened mammals, birds, amphibians and reptiles combined.
Most At-Risk Trees:
- Among the most at-risk trees are species including magnolias and dipterocarps – which are commonly found in Southeast Asian rainforests. Oak trees, maple trees and ebonies also face threats.
Countries with Highest Risk:
- Thousands of varieties of trees in the world’s top six countries for tree-species diversity are at risk of extinction.
- The greatest single number is in Brazil, where 1,788 species are at risk. The other five countries are Indonesia, Malaysia, China, Colombia and Venezuela.
- There were also 27 countries that had no threatened species of trees.
Island Trees:
- Though megadiverse countries see the greatest numbers of varieties at risk of extinction, island tree species are more proportionally at risk.
- This is particularly concerning because many islands have species of trees that can be found nowhere else.
Major Threats:
- The top three threats facing tree species are crop production, timber logging and livestock farming, while climate change and extreme weather are emerging threats.
- At least 180 tree species are directly threatened by rising seas and severe weather, especially island species such as magnolias in the Caribbean.
Botanic Gardens Conservation International:
- It is a plant conservation charity based in Kew, London, England.
- It is a membership organisation, working with 800 botanic gardens in 118 countries, whose combined work forms the world’s largest plant conservation network.
- Headquarters location: Richmond, United Kingdom
- Founded: 2003
