Endangered Tree Species: Six Tree Types Bracing for Extinction

Endangered Tree Species: Six Tree Types Bracing for Extinction

Gardeners as Stewards for Threatened Trees: A Call to Action

Gardeners around the world can play a crucial role in the conservation of threatened tree species, according to Dan Crowley, co-author of Forestry England's The Little Book of Disappearing Trees. By growing rare and endangered trees in their home gardens, gardeners can help maintain populations outside of their vulnerable natural habitats and support biodiversity.

One such example is the Yellow Anise Tree (Illicium parviflorum), a species with a very limited native range that is under threat in the wild. By cultivating this tree, gardeners can contribute to its conservation while also raising awareness about endangered plants.

In addition to growing rare trees, gardeners can also choose native and conservation-need species to plant, providing year-round food and shelter for wildlife and supporting ecosystem health. Avoiding pesticides is another important step, as it helps maintain a natural balance that benefits the broader ecosystem associated with these trees.

Gardeners can also participate in community or botanical garden programs that focus on threatened species and biodiversity conservation. Botanical gardens often serve as seed banks and living collections that safeguard genetic diversity and can provide resources and knowledge for gardeners interested in conservation.

Supporting tailored restoration and conservation efforts is another way gardeners can make a difference. Planting species specifically suited to local conditions and regional ecosystems increases the effectiveness of conservation initiatives.

Westonbirt Arboretum, a significant collection of trees, is part of a project working to back-up all wild origin paperbark maple material currently held in UK tree collections. The arboretum also cares for over 100 species classified as threatened on the IUCN Red List, including the Paperbark maple (Acer griseum) and the Maidenhair tree (Ginkgo biloba).

The book The Little Book of Disappearing Trees highlights 50 threatened trees that grow at the arboretum, many of which are also grown in gardens across the UK. The book profiles each species' plight, conservation efforts, and work in partnership with other botanic gardens. The book can be purchased on a visit to Westonbirt Arboretum.

More than one-third of the world's tree species are threatened in the wild, with many facing threats from urbanisation, illegal collecting, pests, diseases, timber exploitation, and overgrazing. The Atlas cedar (Cedrus atlantica) is under threat from these factors, particularly due to climate change. The Star magnolia (Magnolia stellata), native to Japan, has a conservation status of Endangered due to urbanisation and illegal collecting.

The Horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastum) is vulnerable due to the leaf miner moth, with wild populations having declined hugely. The Giant redwood (Sequoiadendron giganteum), native to California, has a conservation status of Endangered due to human exploitation and past forest fire management.

For more information about the world's threatened trees, visit the Forestry England website. By acting as stewards for threatened trees, gardeners can help propagate and nurture these species, create habitat-friendly environments, and help build bridges between scientific conservation efforts and the public.

1. Gardeners can also purchase and read books like Forestry England's The Little Book of Disappearing Trees to learn more about endangered tree species and their conservation.
2. In the realm of lifestyle and fashion-and-beauty, conscious choices can include opting for home-and-garden products made from sustainable resources, such as wood from trees that are responsibly managed or reclaimed.
3. To fight climate-change, gardening can offer a personal contribution by planting trees that absorb carbon dioxide and emit oxygen, creating a healthier environment for all.
4. Embracing environmental-science concepts, such as permaculture and organic gardening, can help minimize negative environmental impacts while maintaining thriving home-and-garden ecosystems.
5. Beyond traditional gardening, gardeners can engage in educational programs and seminars to broaden their understanding of threatened tree species and effective conservation techniques.
6. The entertainment industry could play its part in highlighting the importance of tree conservation by featuring documentaries, movies, and TV shows that showcase the plight of endangered tree species and the role gardeners can play in their protection.

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