But as much as we admire them, trees are in a lot of trouble. A recent first-of-its-kind study assessing every kind of tree native to the United States found that 11% to 16% of them are threatened with extinction.
The research was carried out across the lower 48 United States over the past five years. It was a collaboration of multiple different organizations throughout the country and even a few global contributors. The result provided a better understanding of the current condition of the local plants and a starting point to work on to protect them.
#3 This Tree Grew Around A Stone Sculpture Of A Face, Making It Appear As If There Is A Green Man Trapped Inside
#5 This Sculpture Of Jesus At Abandoned Cemetery In Poland Gets Slowly Absorbed By A Tree
"We can't protect what we don't know about," said Susan Pell, Executive Director of the United States Botanic Garden. "And so we really have to have a baseline of understanding of what things are at risk."
The scientists looked at the extinction risk, patterns of geographic and taxonomic diversity, and leading threats facing the species. The most common threat turned out to be invasive and problematic pests and diseases.
"As we have warmer climates, in our northern parts of our country, we see some of these invasive insects being able to go further north to attack more trees," Pell explained.
For instance, take the Emerald Ash Borer first found in Michigan.
"The early projections when it was first discovered were that it wouldn't make it to Canada. And now with climate change, projections are going to become more widespread in Canada and certainly in the United States," Pell said.
#12 The 'Hungry Tree', Slowing Devouring A Park Bench In Dublin, Ireland
Additional climate change threats include worsening drought conditions in parts of the country, widespread wildfires, and more intense storms with heavy rain. Other stressors for trees come from development and agriculture.
"What we’ve identified are the species that are most at risk," Pell said. "And we're also looking at some habitats that are most impressive on some of these areas and coastal environments, for example, that are under threat for development, and thinking about ways that we can conserve plants, both from a land perspective but also looking at what can we do for individual species that are really at risk."
One thing they can do is protect their habitat. Specialists are also working to put at-risk trees in living collections — places like botanic gardens and arboretums.
Through the study, researchers found that there are currently 17 species of trees not found in living collections that need a new home.
#19 The Way This Tree Is Stripping The Paint Off This Sign Only To Cover Itself In Paint
