The Global Tree Assessment aims to assess the conservation status of every known tree species globally. The Global Tree Assessment will provide prioritisation information to inform conservation action for trees, so that no tree species need become extinct.
Red List assessments are proving very important in policy making and priority setting. Without species-specific conservation assessment information, tree species are at risk of being neglected in conservation planning. To ensure functioning ecosystems and that conservation action is carried out for the species in most urgent need, an assessment of extinction risk across all tree species is critical.
As Australia is rich in biodiversity with more than 26,000 plant taxa and one of the highest levels of endemic tree species worldwide, it is imperative we understand the conservation status of every single tree species. This information can help with the allocation of research and conservation resources nationally.
Foreword from the State of the World’s Trees Report:
“Documenting the conservation status of a group of nearly 60,000 species is the largest initiative in the history of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. It represents a huge effort by hundreds of individuals under the coordination of Botanic Gardens Conservation International and the IUCN Species Survival Commission who should be thanked for this key contribution to nature conservation. This report is an important step towards the full assessment of all tree species, which will constitute a baseline against which countries will be able to report on progress towards the protection of the world’s biodiversity.”
– Jean-Christophe Vié, Director General Fondation Franklinia
Australian Project Goal
While many Australian endemic tree species have already been assessed under state, territory and national endangered species legislation, there remains over 1,000 tree species that have not yet received a conservation assessment of any kind.
With the help of Botanic Gardens Conservation International, the IUCN Tree Specialist Group and many botanists and taxonomists from around Australia, this project will increase the number of conservation assessments of Australian endemic tree species contributing to the Global Tree Assessment – with the aim of conservation assessments of all Australian endemic tree species completed by the end of the project.
Funding
The Council of Heads of Australian Botanic Gardens acknowledges the generous financial support provided for this project by Botanic Gardens Conservation International.
The project is being led by Dr Kelli Gowland, Science Advisor, IUCN Red List of Australian Endemic Trees with support from Mr Damian Wrigley. Kelli and Damian are hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens, Canberra.
