European Red List of Trees

2025-05-18

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In this Saturday episode of Talking Trees, we examine the findings of the European Red List of Trees, a landmark IUCN-based assessment revealing that nearly 42% of Europe’s native tree species are threatened with extinction.We discuss:The major threats contributing to this crisis, including invasive species, habitat loss, poor land management, and deforestationGeographic trends and country-level data, showing where conservation challenges are most acuteThe critical role of ex situ conservation, such as seed banks and botanical gardens, and the alarming g...

In this Saturday episode of Talking Trees, we examine the findings of the European Red List of Trees, a landmark IUCN-based assessment revealing that nearly 42% of Europe’s native tree species are threatened with extinction.

We discuss:

The major threats contributing to this crisis, including invasive species, habitat loss, poor land management, and deforestation
Geographic trends and country-level data, showing where conservation challenges are most acute
The critical role of ex situ conservation, such as seed banks and botanical gardens, and the alarming gap in protection for many rare species
Why native tree diversity matters for ecosystem function, climate resilience, and cultural identity
The need for urgent, targeted conservation action, backed by policy, science, and public engagement

This episode is a call to action—protecting Europe's trees means protecting its ecological future.

Background information: