A new report from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has revealed that over 16,000 tree species are at risk of extinction worldwide. The report, published on Monday, highlights the threats facing trees such as logging, land clearing for farming and human expansion, as well as climate change leading to droughts and wildfires.
More than 47,000 species were assessed for the IUCN study, with over 5,000 species used for construction timber and over 2,000 for medicines, food, and fuels. Species at risk include well-known trees like the horse chestnut, ginkgo, and big leaf mahogany, as well as many ash, magnolia, and eucalyptus species.
The report notes that the number of threatened tree species is more than double the combined number of threatened birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians. The highest proportion of at-risk trees is found on islands due to rapid urban development, agriculture, and invasive species.
In South America, home to the Amazon jungle, over 3,000 tree species are at risk of extinction out of 13,668 assessed. The IUCN is calling for forest protection, tree planting, and conservation efforts like seed banks and botanical garden collections to prevent further losses.
IUCN Director-General Grethel Aguilar emphasized the importance of trees for supporting life on Earth and the livelihoods of millions of people. The report’s publication coincides with the UN COP16 summit on biodiversity in Cali, Colombia, where discussions on nature conservation and the need for increased funding are taking place. The UNEP estimates that $542 billion annually will be required by 2030 to halt nature loss and meet climate goals.
Source
Photo credit www.aljazeera.com