More than one in three tree species globally are on the verge of extinction, according to the IUCN Red List’s newly released Global Tree Assessment. This data marks a milestone in conservation, showing the first global picture of tree species at risk, with 38% of all known species facing potential extinction.

The assessment, published in the IUCN Red List update on October 28, 2024, comes as a reminder of the essential role trees play in maintaining global biodiversity and supporting countless human livelihoods.

“Today, we are releasing the global assessment of the world’s trees on the IUCN Red List, which shows that more than one in three tree species are threatened with extinction,” stated Dr Grethel Aguilar, IUCN Director General, in a press release.

“Trees are essential to support life on Earth, and millions of people depend on them. This assessment highlights the IUCN Red List’s role as a barometer of life and as a guiding tool to reverse the decline of nature,” she added.

The report’s findings are the result of collaboration among over 1,000 tree specialists from around the world. The assessment has revealed that 16,425 of the 47,282 species assessed are at risk.

These threats range from deforestation and urban expansion to the increasing impacts of climate change, especially on island ecosystems where many species are particularly vulnerable.

According to Dr Malin Rivers of Botanic Gardens Conservation International, the findings are intended to drive conservation efforts.

“The work is a global effort, with over 1,000 tree experts involved. We need to continue to work together to scale up local, national, and international tree conservation action to support people and the planet,” Rivers said, reiterating the need for targeted interventions in high-risk regions, such as South America.

In South America, which holds the world’s highest tree diversity, over 3,356 species face extinction due to forest clearing for agriculture and cattle farming.

The IUCN report highlights that Colombia has already leveraged these assessments to inform new Key Biodiversity Areas, designed to protect vulnerable species, including magnolias classified as Endangered or Critically Endangered.

“There is no excuse not to act,” said Jean-Christophe Vié, director general of Fondation Franklinia, which contributed significantly to the assessment. “The task is huge, but it has already started,” he added, noting the role of NGOs, botanic gardens, and universities.

Beyond the tree species themselves, experts caution that the disappearance of trees will endanger numerous other species. Cleo Cunningham of BirdLife International noted that over two-thirds of threatened bird species rely on forested habitats, underscoring the interconnectedness of ecosystems.

The IUCN assessment, celebrating 60 years of the Red List, serves as both a stark warning and a call to action. As Dr Eimear Nic Lughadha of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, put it, “We hope this frightening statistic of one in three trees facing extinction will incentivise urgent action and be used to inform conservation plans.”

IOL

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