A recent study released during the COP16 revealed an alarming fact: 38% of trees are at risk of extinction. This is happening globally.
In other words, one in three species faces a high environmental risk. This data, during the ongoing biodiversity meeting in Colombia, highlights the urgency of adopting conservation measures.
This was detailed in the first “Global Tree Assessment” published on Monday by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Endangered trees: what the study says
Deforestation is a threat to endangered trees.
According to the report, around 16,000 tree species are at risk due to deforestation, climate change, and urbanization.
For the first time, most of the world’s trees have been included on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. A total of 47,282 species were identified for the analysis.
Trees currently represent more than a quarter of the IUCN’s inventory, and the number of these threatened species is more than double that of all birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians at risk combined.
“Trees are essential to maintaining life on Earth due to their vital role in ecosystems, and millions of people depend on them,” emphasized in the report Grethel Aguilar, Director General of the IUCN.
Endangered tree species are listed in 192 countries.
In Argentina, the situation is critical, with native species like quebracho and algarrobo at serious risk. The loss of these trees not only affects the fauna that depends on them but also impacts air quality and climate.
Topics being discussed at COP16
Colombia, one of the world’s most biodiverse countries, is hosting COP16 until November 1st. There, 196 States are debating to reach agreements that allow them to stop the destruction of nature.
Around 23,000 delegates, including a hundred ministers and a dozen heads of state, are meeting in Cali under the theme of “Peace with Nature,” which identifies this edition of the United Nations summit.
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