Alarm call as world's trees slide towards extinction

Helen Briggs, BBC environment correspondent•@hbriggs

Scientists assessing dangers posed to the world’s trees have revealed that more than a third of species are facing extinction in the wild.

The number of threatened trees now outweighs all threatened birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians put together, according to the latest update to the official extinction red list.

The news was released in Cali, Colombia, where world leaders are meeting at the UN biodiversity summit, COP 16, to assess progress on a landmark rescue plan for nature.

Trees are vital for life, helping to clean the air and soak up carbon emissions, as well as providing homes for thousands of birds, insects and mammals.

Ash trees are under threat from the fungal disease, ash dieback
More than 1,000 scientists took part in the assessment of the conservation status of trees, compiled by the plant conservation charity, Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Emily Beech of BGCI said 38% of the world's trees are now threatened with extinction.

“Trees are highly threatened all across the world but now we have the tools that we need to make sure that we prioritise conservation action on the ground,” she said.

Trees are at risk in 192 countries, with clearing land for farming and logging the biggest threat and, in temperate regions, pests and diseases.

Well-known trees such as magnolias are among the most threatened, with oaks, maple and ebonies also at risk.

Getty Images The monkey puzzle tree is now endangered in its native habitat across South AmericaGetty Images
The monkey puzzle tree is now endangered in its native habitat across South America
Scientists at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, in London, are working to conserve trees across the world by collecting seeds and growing specimens in arboretums.

Conservation researcher Steven Bachman said the figures were “shocking”, with a knock-on effect for the many other plants and animals that depend on trees.

“We are currently in a biodiversity crisis," he said. "Many species of trees all around the world are providing habitat for many other species of birds, mammals, insects, fungi.

"If we lose the trees we are losing many other species with them.”

As well as trees, the update to the extinction red list brought bad news for other plants and animals. ...

Replant more trees.

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I hate the way our farmers cut down every tree on their land -

I've seen plenty of farms where every tree was chopped down.