One-Third of tree species face extinction, threatening ecosystems and global economy

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has released its first "Global Tree Assessment," revealing that over one-third of the world's tree species are threatened with extinction. According to the report, 38% of the world's trees are at risk, with 16,425 species endangered out of the 47,282 assessed.

This alarming update coincided with the United Nations' COP16 summit on biodiversity, taking place in Cali, Colombia, where representatives from 196 states are debating agreements to halt the destruction of nature. The IUCN Red List, one of the most comprehensive sources on global extinction risk, now includes trees for the first time, highlighting the urgent need to intensify conservation efforts.

The risk of extinction for tree species surpasses the combined threat levels faced by birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians, emphasizing the critical state of global biodiversity. "Trees are essential for maintaining life on Earth due to their vital role in ecosystems, and millions of people depend on them," said Grethel Aguilar, IUCN Director General, according to CNN. She added, "Can you imagine a planet without trees?"

More than 900 species of trees have already disappeared, and every time trees vanish, thousands of other species of plants, animals, or fungi are weakened, underscoring the interconnectedness of our natural world. The Red List now includes 166,061 species, of which 46,337 are threatened, emphasizing the scale of the biodiversity crisis.

Major threats to trees include deforestation for urban development and agriculture, logging, invasive species, pests, diseases, and climate change. Deforestation driven by agricultural expansion, particularly for crop farming and livestock ranching, is a significant factor contributing to the decline of tree populations. Trees are being cut down for timber, primarily due to agriculture, logging, and urbanization, with habitat degradation in rural and protected areas contributing to the decline.

Climate change is increasingly threatening trees, especially in the tropics, through rising sea levels and stronger and more frequent storms, which aggravate problems such as pests and diseases. The loss of tree species has cascading effects on thousands of other plants, fungi, and animals. "The loss of tree species is harmful not only to ecosystems but also to the species that use trees as habitat, such as mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, insects, other plants, and fungi," explained Emily Beech, according to Folha de S.Paulo.

Trees play a crucial role in carbon, water, and nutrient cycles, soil formation, and climate regulation. They absorb greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and can absorb up to 54 tons of carbon dioxide and 430 pounds of other air pollutants each year. People rely on tree species for food, timber, fuels, and medicines. Over 5,000 of the IUCN Red List tree species are used for construction timber, while more than 2,000 are utilized in the pharmaceutical and food industries.

Threatened tree species are cataloged in 192 countries, highlighting the global nature of this crisis. The highest proportion of threatened trees is found on islands, where rapid urban development, agricultural expansion, and introduced species pose significant threats. In South America, where the greatest diversity of trees in the world is found, 3,356 of the 13,668 evaluated species are at risk of extinction, primarily due to deforestation for crop farming and livestock ranching.

Experts agree that the tree crisis is an issue that affects all aspects of human life. "We hope that this terrifying statistic of one in three trees at risk of extinction will spur urgent action and be used to guide conservation plans," said Eimear Nic Lughadha, Principal Researcher of Assessment and Conservation Analysis at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, according to LaRepublica.pe.

At COP16, world leaders are evaluating progress on a global conservation pledge and discussing unresolved issues, including funding for biodiversity preservation and strengthening national conservation strategies. The report calls for forest conservation and restoration through tree planting, emphasizing the need to improve reforestation programs by diversifying species and including endangered species. "Trees are considered an easy solution to climate change, and trees are being planted everywhere, but the way reforestation is done needs to be improved by diversifying species and including threatened species," stated an expert, according to CBS News.

The IUCN believes that addressing the threats facing trees, protecting and restoring habitats, and ex situ conservation through seed banks and botanical garden collections are fundamental to preventing extinctions. "Now we know where to act to efficiently address the extinction crisis affecting the world's trees. There is no longer an excuse not to act," emphasized Jean-Christophe Vié, Director General of the Fondation Franklinia, according to CBS News.

The report highlights the urgent need for conservation efforts to prevent further loss of tree species, which would have profound impacts on ecosystems, economies, and human communities worldwide. "We, humans, are capable to reverse this and save these trees that we depend on, so the task that we have is huge," stated Grethel Aguilar, according to CNN.

Sources: LaRepublica.pe, Deutsche Welle, El Periódico, CNN, CBS News, Folha de S.Paulo, www.elcolombiano.com, Scienze Notizie, Gestión, La Nación, Hindustan, ETV Bharat News, Forbes, BBC, The Indian Express

This article was written in collaboration with generative AI company Alchemiq