According to a new report by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), prepared for the Red Book, every third tree species in the world is under threat of extinction, daily.afisha.ru reports with reference to CNN.

According to the study, of the 47 282 tree species known to science, at least 16 425 are in critical condition. The researchers note an alarming fact: the number of tree species under threat of extinction is more than twice the combined number of all endangered species of birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians.

Experts identify several key factors that threaten the existence of trees: the expansion of urban areas, the development of agriculture, the spread of invasive species, various diseases, as well as climate change, manifested in rising sea levels and more intense storms.

Gretel Aguilar, Director General of IUCN, says: “The loss of trees directly threatens thousands of other species of plants, fungi and animals, demonstrating how deeply interconnected our natural world is. Trees are a barometer of life. They produce the oxygen that people breathe, provide food and shelter for wildlife, provide medicines and livelihoods for indigenous people, and absorb carbon pollution from the atmosphere that contributes to heat”.

The most critical situation is observed in the island territories of Fiji, Cuba and Madagascar. In the region of South America where the Amazon forests are located, 3 356 tree species out of 13 668 are at risk of extinction due to large-scale deforestation for agricultural needs and livestock farming.