At the recent UN Conference on Biodiversity (COP16) held in Cali, Colombia, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) presented an alarming scenario: more than 16,000 tree species, essential to the planet's health and humanity, are at risk of extinction.
The main drivers of this ecological crisis include deforestation for intensive agriculture, logging, the spread of invasive species, and climate change.
The IUCN warns that the loss of these trees not only affects plants and animals that share their ecosystems but also endangers human health. Trees play crucial roles in carbon and water cycles, and their extinction impacts food production, firewood supply, air quality, and climate regulation.
Species such as the horse chestnut and the broad-leaved mahogany, vital for medicine and industry, are among the most threatened. This impact is particularly critical in South American forests, which hold the greatest diversity of tree species on the planet.
Cleos Cunningham of BirdLife International notes that forests support more than two-thirds of the world's threatened bird species. Without swift action, local communities and indigenous peoples who rely directly on these forests will face the loss of their homes and livelihoods.
The report emphasizes the need for countries to commit to protecting 30% of the planet by 2030, as stipulated in the Kunming-Montreal Agreement of COP15, and concludes that immediate action is essential to secure the future of forests and terrestrial life.
(By Rafael Langa)
