More than one in three tree species are threatened with extinction: Report | Environmental Affairs

The International Union for Conservation of Nature says that tree species are in danger of extinction in 192 countries.

More than one in three tree species are in danger of extinction worldwide, threatening life as we know it on Earth, according to a report published by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.

A report published on Monday warned that more than 16,000 tree species are at risk of extinction. More than 47,000 species were assessed by the IUCN study, out of an estimated 58,000 species thought to exist in the world.

According to the report, trees are being cut down to clear and clear land for farming and population expansion. Climate change also poses an increased threat of increased drought and wildfires.

More than 5,000 species on the IUCN Red List are used for timber, and more than 2,000 species for medicine, food and fuel.

Species at risk include the horse chestnut and ginkgo, both used medicinally, the big-leaf mahogany used in furniture, and several species of ash, magnolia and eucalyptus, said Emily Beech, head of conservation at the Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI), which participated in the assessment of the tree.

Furthermore, according to the IUCN report, the number of endangered trees is “more than twice the number of all endangered birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians combined”.

Although tree species are threatened with extinction in 192 countries, the largest proportion is found on islands due to rapid urbanization and agricultural expansion, as well as the introduction of invasive species, insects and diseases from other areas, the report noted.

In South America, which boasts the largest tree diversity in the world, 3,356 of the 13,668 species surveyed are threatened with extinction. Many species of animals in this continent, which is home to the Amazon rainforest, are almost undiscovered.

If it does, “it is very likely that it will be threatened with extinction,” the report said.

The IUCN called for the protection and restoration of the forest through tree planting and the conservation of endangered species through seed banks and botanical garden collections.

“Trees are essential to sustaining life on Earth through their vital role in nature, and millions of people depend on them for their survival and livelihood,” IUCN Director-General Grethel Aguilar said in a statement.

The publication of this report also coincided with the United Nations COP16 conference on biodiversity, which began in the Colombian city of Cali.

The UN Environment Program (UNEP) estimates that environmental spending must increase to $542bn per year by 2030, from $200bn from 2022, to halt environmental loss and meet climate goals.