Almost a third of the world's tree species face extinction: Report

Context

Almost a third of the world’s tree species are at risk of extinction, while hundreds are on the brink of being wiped out.

• The State of the World’s Treesreport is published by the Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI). 

Key-highlights of the Report

• Some 17,500 tree species – or 30 percent of the total – are at risk of extinction, 
• While 440 species have fewer than 50 specimens left in the wild.
• Overall the number of threatened tree species is double the number of threatened mammals, birds, amphibians and reptiles. 
• Vulnerable species: Among the most vulnerable trees are species including magnolias and dipterocarps – which are commonly found in Southeast Asian rainforests. 
• Oak trees, maple trees and ebonies also face threats.
• Top countries: 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.
• Top threats: The top three threats facing tree species are:
• crop production
• timber logging
• 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.

Concern

• Trees help support the natural ecosystem and are considered vital for combating global warming and climate change. 
• The extinction of a single tree species could prompt the loss of many others.
• Every tree species matters – to the millions of other species that depend on trees, and to people all over the world.
• Though mega-diverse 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.