Scientists are urging world leaders to act in order to protect the planet's threatened trees, and prevent further ecological and economic damage from their extinction.
Although this will vary depending on the region, the authors say the main threats to trees are habitat loss from the spread of agriculture, logging, livestock farming and urban development. Other threats include fire regimes, energy production and mining, and invasive species, with climate change also expected to intensify in the future and make these problems worse.
The paper's authors warn that the "large-scale extinction of tree species will lead to major biodiversity losses in other species groups and substantially alter the cycling of carbon, water and nutrients in the world's ecosystems." On the economic side, the authors say forests contribute approximately US$1.3 trillion globally, much of it from timber but also in the form of fruit, nuts and medicine.
In their paper, the authors propose seven actions to prevent the widespread extinction of the planet's tree species.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
G7 countries set to back price cap on Russian oil to limit Kremlin funding of warThe G7 countries are poised to agree a price cap on purchases of Russian oil to limit the Kremlin’s earnings from exports and ability to fund its war against Ukraine
Read more »
Extinction Rebellion activists 'superglue' themselves around Speakers Chair inside U.K. Commons chamberActivists from the Extinction Rebellion environmental group staged a protest inside Britain’s parliament on Friday, while it was not in session, gluing themselves around the speaker’s chair before being removed
Read more »
'Terrorizing the community': Edson man pleads guilty in string of arsons that killed pets, destroyed livelihoodsThomas James Berube entered guilty pleas Friday afternoon for his role in a string of arsons in the Edson area that began in December 2019. The Crown has proposed a 10-year sentence, to which Berube — who is self-represented — has agreed
Read more »
'Terrorizing the community': Edson man pleads guilty in string of arsons that killed pets, destroyed livelihoodsThomas James Berube entered guilty pleas Friday afternoon for his role in a string of arsons in the Edson area that began in December 2019. The Crown has proposed a 10-year sentence, to which Berube — who is self-represented — has agreed
Read more »
Iran briefly seizes two U.S. sea drones in Red Sea amid tensionsIran releases two U.S. sea drones after warning to ‘avoid repeating similar incidents in future’
Read more »
Saskatchewan mother accused of faking deaths, crossing into U.S., gets bail – Terrace StandardSaskatchewan mother accused of faking deaths, crossing into U.S., gets bail
Read more »