Approximately 30% of plant species are on the verge of extinction.

Experts say that as many as 17,500 plant species are endangered, double the total number of endangered mammals, birds, amphibians, and reptiles.

Specifically, large tropical trees belonging to the Dipterocarpaceae family are being lost due to the expansion of oil palm plantations, magnolia trees are endangered by plant gathering, oak trees are losing their growing and cultivation areas in parts of Mexico, Chile, and Argentina, ebony and rosewood trees are being cut down for timber in Madagascar, and ash trees are dying from pests and diseases in England and North America.

Approximately 142 plant species have disappeared from the wild, while 442 species are in critical condition with fewer than 50 individuals remaining in the wild.

The biggest threats to trees globally are deforestation for agriculture (affecting 29% of species), logging (27%), deforestation for livestock grazing or agriculture (14%), deforestation for development (13%), and forest fires (13%).

Over the past 300 years, global forest cover has decreased by approximately 40%, and 29 countries have lost more than 90% of their forest cover. Scientists estimate that one million animal and plant species are threatened with extinction.

Khanh Ha