1 in 3 Tree Species Worldwide at Risk of Extinction, Report Finds [Video]

The world’s trees — the lungs of our planet and the foundation of many ecosystems — are in trouble. According to the first Global Tree Assessment, 38 percent of tree species are at risk of extinction.

The assessment, led by Botanical Gardens Conservation International and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Species Survival Commission Global Tree Specialist Group, is an initiative that looks at the conservation status assessments of all Earth’s tree species on the IUCN Red List.

“Today, we are releasing the global assessment of the world’s trees on the IUCN Red List, which shows that 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 upon them for their lives and livelihoods,” said IUCN Director General Dr. Grethel Aguilarin a press release from IUCN. “As the …