Botanic Gardens Conservation International or BGCI released a report entitled World Forestry Report earlier this month.
The report found that out of the planet’s 58,497 recorded tree species, 17,490 — or 29.9% — were threatened.
“Many tree species are on the brink of extinction, some represented by one last living individual,” said Jean-Christophe Vie, Director General of Fondation Franklinia.
“Assuming that Data Deficient species are equally likely to be threatened as all other tree species, we can estimate that 38.1% of tree species are classified as threatened,” the report said.
The report’s numbers and data were based on data from various sources such as the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)’s Red List, scientific research papers, and other assessments that focus on conservation.
Some trees that are under threat could be very familiar to many and include oaks, magnolias, and maples.
Paul Smith, BGCI’s secretary-general, said the report was a warning for everybody.
“Every tree species matters — to the millions of other species that depend on trees, and to people all over the world,” said Smith.
Trees are a vital part of Earth’s ecosystem and according to the IUCN, forests absorb around 2.6 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide every year.
“Tree species that have evolved over millions of years, adapting to changing climates, can no longer survive the onslaught of human threats,” said Vie.
