Red alarm level: over 16,000 tree species threatened before extinction!

Red alarm level: over 16,000 tree species threatened before extinction!

Over 16,000 tree species threatened with extinction worldwide!

An alarming report by the International Union for Nature Conservation (IUCN) beats the alarm bells: More than a third of all tree species are facing extinction worldwide! In a comprehensive analysis that took a close look at 47,000 species from 192 countries, it was found that over 16,000 tree species are in acute danger. This is a terrifying reality that seriously threatens life on our planet!

The reasons for this concern for this are varied: deforestation for the wood harvest, agricultural expansion and the devastating effects of climate change, strain drought time and forest fires. Tree species such as horse chestnut and the Ginkgo, which are not only used for medical purposes, are particularly affected, but also the large leaf mahogany, which is in demand in the furniture industry. According to Emily Beech from the Botanic Gardens Conservation International, over 5,000 of the endangered species are essential for the construction of wood products, while more than 2,000 types of food, medicine and fuels are used.

global threat and urgent need for action

The IUCN warns that the number of endangered tree species is more than twice as high as the sum of all endangered birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians together! The Situation is particularly critical on islands, where fast urban growth and invasive species endanger the domestic tree species. In South America, the hotspot of the diversity of the tree, 3,356 of 13,668 evaluated species are threatened with extinction. Many of these species, which are located in the Amazon region, may not even have been discovered and face an uncertain future.

The IUCN urgently calls for measures to protect and restore the forests by reforestation and the preservation of endangered species by seed banks and botanical collections. "Trees are decisive for life on earth and millions of people are dependent on them," emphasizes IUCN director Grethel Aguilar. These alarming findings fall together with the UN summit COP16 on biodiversity in Cali, Colombia, where the urgency of action is clearly on the agenda.