Endangered
When we hear about endangered species, we normally think about animals. But many plants - including trees - are becoming scarce and may disappear from our planet forever if no appropriate action is taken. Trees are flagship species for ecosystem and landscape conservation.
Over 8,000 tree species, representing 10% of the planet's tree flora, are threatened with extinction principally through woodland and forest destruction and unsustainable felling for timber.
There are 62 endangered European tree species.
In the UK, 11 native or endemic species of the Whitebeam or Sorbus group are now endangered. That includes Sorbus arranensis whose entire wild population is made up of just 500 trees scattered on the steep rocky slopes on the Isle of Arran where browsing sheep are a major hazard.
Among the 8,000 globally threatened trees, 17 species are of proven medicinal importance. About 65% of all medicinal plant species are trees.
Several trees which are popular in botanical collections in the UK are often rare and/or endangered in the wild. Those include a variety of the Cedar of Lebanon, the Dove or Pocket Handkerchief tree and the Brewer & Serbian Spruces.
More:
- Further information on the Global Trees Campaign is available on the Fauna & Flora International website
- Background on how endangered species are recognised and monitored is available on the United Nations Environment Programme - World Conservation Monitoring Centre website
- Plant Life has useful data.
- The Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh hosts the International Conifer Conservation Programme