Report: 30 Percent of Tree Species at Risk of Extinction
2021-09-13
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1A new report by a British-based plant protection group says almost 30 percent of the world's tree species are at risk of extinction.
2The State of the World's Trees report warns that 17,500 tree species are at risk of dying out.
3And 440 species have fewer than 50 individual trees left in the wild.
4The report was recently published by Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI).
5The number of threatened tree species is double the number of threatened mammals, birds, amphibians and reptiles combined, the report said.
6In a statement, BGCI Secretary General Paul Smith said, "This report is a wake-up call to everyone around the world that trees need help."
7Among the most at-risk trees are species including magnolias and dipterocarps.
8These trees are commonly found in Southeast Asian rainforests.
9Oak trees, maple trees and ebonies also face threats, the report said.
10Trees help support the natural environment and are considered important for fighting global warming and climate change.
11The extinction of a single tree species could mean the loss of many others.
12"Every tree species matters - to the millions of other species that depend on trees, and to people all over the world," Smith said.
13The report found that thousands of kinds of trees in the world's top six countries for tree-species diversity are at risk of extinction.
14The greatest single number is in Brazil, where 1,788 species are at risk.
15The other five countries are Indonesia, Malaysia, China, Colombia and Venezuela.
16The report said the top three threats facing tree species are crop production, logging and livestock farming.
17Climate change and extreme weather are also growing threats.
18At least 180 tree species are directly threatened by rising seas and severe weather, the report added.
19It noted that island tree species are more at risk than other trees.
20"This is particularly concerning because many islands have species of trees that can be found nowhere else," the report said.
21I'm Jonathan Evans.
1A new report by a British-based plant protection group says almost 30 percent of the world's tree species are at risk of extinction. 2The State of the World's Trees report warns that 17,500 tree species are at risk of dying out. And 440 species have fewer than 50 individual trees left in the wild. 3The report was recently published by Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI). 4The number of threatened tree species is double the number of threatened mammals, birds, amphibians and reptiles combined, the report said. 5In a statement, BGCI Secretary General Paul Smith said, "This report is a wake-up call to everyone around the world that trees need help." 6Among the most at-risk trees are species including magnolias and dipterocarps. These trees are commonly found in Southeast Asian rainforests. Oak trees, maple trees and ebonies also face threats, the report said. 7Trees help support the natural environment and are considered important for fighting global warming and climate change. The extinction of a single tree species could mean the loss of many others. 8"Every tree species matters - to the millions of other species that depend on trees, and to people all over the world," Smith said. 9The report found that thousands of kinds of trees in the world's top six countries for tree-species diversity are at risk of extinction. The greatest single number is in Brazil, where 1,788 species are at risk. 10The other five countries are Indonesia, Malaysia, China, Colombia and Venezuela. 11The report said the top three threats facing tree species are crop production, logging and livestock farming. Climate change and extreme weather are also growing threats. 12At least 180 tree species are directly threatened by rising seas and severe weather, the report added. It noted that island tree species are more at risk than other trees. 13"This is particularly concerning because many islands have species of trees that can be found nowhere else," the report said. 14I'm Jonathan Evans. 15Oliver Griffin reported on this story for the Reuters news service. Jonathan Evans adapted this story for Learning English. Bryan Lynn was the editor. 16_________________________________________________ 17Words in This Story 18species - n. biology: a group of animals or plants that are similar and can produce young animals or plants 19extinction - n. when a plant or animal completely dies out 20wake-up call - n. something that happens and serves as a warning that action should be taken 21diversity - n. a situation in which many different kinds of things or people are included in something 22logging - n. the activity of cutting down trees in order to get wood that can be sold 23livestock - n. farm animals (such as cows and sheep) used for grazing and roaming