NAIROBI, Oct 29 (Swara)—In a groundbreaking revelation, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has reported that 38 per cent of the world’s tree species face the threat of extinction.
The announcement, published in the latest update of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™, underscores the perilous state of global biodiversity. Nearly 16,500 of the assessed 47,282 tree species are marked as endangered. The release is part of the IUCN Red List’s 60th-anniversary update, which now includes 166,061 species, 46,337 of which are endangered.
Grethel Aguilar, IUCN Director General, highlighted the importance of the Red List in her release statement in Cali, Colombia, on October 28, noting its role as a measure of biodiversity health and a guide for conservation efforts. “More than one in three tree species are threatened with extinction. Trees are essential to support life on Earth through their vital role in ecosystems, and millions of people depend on them for their lives and livelihoods,” said Aguilar.
This first comprehensive global assessment marks a significant milestone, encompassing most tree species. Alarmingly, trees now represent over a quarter of all species on the Red List, with endangered tree species outnumbering threatened birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians combined. The assessment involved over 1,000 experts worldwide and will be critical in guiding global and local conservation efforts.
Malin Rivers of Botanic Gardens Conservation International, the organisation leading the Global Tree Assessment, called for urgent action. “This assessment enables us to make better-informed conservation decisions and take action to protect trees where it is urgently needed. We must scale up conservation efforts across all levels to support both people and the planet,” said Rivers.
Island trees face the highest extinction risks due to deforestation, urban development, and agriculture, while invasive species, pests, and climate change intensify threats. Rising sea levels and severe storms, especially in the tropics, endanger tree species globally. Habitat protection, restoration, and conservation through seed banks and botanic gardens are essential to prevent further losses, particularly on islands. Recent community-driven conservation successes include the Juan Fernández islands, Cuba, Madagascar, and Fiji.
South America, which boasts the world’s greatest tree diversity, faces severe threats. Over 3,300 of its 13,668 assessed species are at risk, primarily due to deforestation for agriculture and livestock ranching. In Colombia, Red List data has informed national conservation strategies, enabling the designation of five new Key Biodiversity Areas to protect endangered Magnolia species. These conservation zones will inform spatial planning at both local and national levels.
The impact of tree loss extends to countless other species, as trees play a vital role in carbon and nutrient cycles, soil formation, and climate regulation. They also provide critical resources for human populations, with over 5,000 species used for timber and over 2,000 species for medicinal, food, and fuel purposes.
The Red List update also highlighted the declining status of the Western European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus), which has shifted from Least Concern to Near Threatened. Population declines of up to 50 per cent have been reported in regions like Bavaria, Germany, and Flanders, Belgium, driven by habitat degradation, urban expansion, and agricultural intensification. Abi Gazzard of the IUCN Small Mammal Specialist Group stressed the need for localized efforts to support hedgehog populations, such as the UK’s “Hedgehog Street” initiative, and emphasized the importance of expanded monitoring to fill knowledge gaps on lesser-studied populations.
As the world confronts a biodiversity crisis, the IUCN Red List continues to be an essential tool, providing critical insights and guiding global conservation actions to protect and restore species under threat.
