Preserving Our Future: The Crucial Role Of Endangered Plants

An Overview of the Crisis

According to the 2020 State of the World's Plants and Fungi Report, approximately 39.4% of the world's plants are now threatened with extinction¹. This disturbing trend is a substantial leap from the estimated one in five plants predicted in the 2016 report. The acceleration of plant extinction is triggered by a variety of factors, including deforestation, overexploitation, climate change, and the spread of invasive species².

Figure 1: Number and distribution of modern extinctions³

The Importance of Plants

The significance of plants and fungi cannot be underestimated. Not only do they provide us with food, medicines, and energy, but they are also the backbone of our planet's ecosystem.

For instance, despite the existence of more than 7,000 edible plants, humanity's food energy intake derives from just 15 plants⁴. In the medicinal realm, nearly 4 billion people rely on herbal medicines for their primary healthcare, and at least 118 of the top 150 prescribed drugs in the United States are based on natural sources⁵.

Beyond human benefits, plants also play a crucial role in maintaining the health of ecosystems. Seaweeds are vital for the conservation of shallow marine ecosystems⁶, and trees are invaluable resources in tackling pollution and mitigating climate change⁷.

Figure 2: The Conservation Status of the World's Tree Species⁸

For further reading: 8 Stunning Endangered Species Facts to Know About

Driving Factors Behind Plant Extinction

The endangerment of plant species can be linked to a multitude of factors, including deforestation, mass-agriculture, logging, livestock farming, and climate change. Overharvesting of some plant species to meet human needs has also placed many medical and food species at risk of extinction.

For instance, Black Cohosh, American and Asian Ginseng, and Wild Yam - all valued for their medicinal properties - are some of the endangered species threatened due to overexploitation⁹. Similarly, overdependence on a handful of crops for global food needs has resulted in the loss of 75% of global farmed plant diversity compared to pre-1900¹⁰.

Implications of Plant Loss

The extinction of plant species triggers a dangerous domino effect, leading to a loss of animal diversity, making ecosystems vulnerable to climate change, and putting human health and the entire food chain at risk¹¹. Hence, protecting plant species is crucial not only for environmental conservation but also for ensuring food security and human health.

Strategies for Plant Conservation

One of the most effective policies to safeguard endangered species is the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Passed in the US in 1973, the ESA allows individuals and organisations to petition for the listing of a species as endangered or threatened¹².

While the ESA has been more than 99% successful at preventing extinction, there are other ways everyone can help conserve plants and protect those at risk of extinction. One such way is to educate ourselves and others about threatened species, understanding the consequences of their disappearance.

For further reading: 10 of the World's Most Endangered Animals in 2022

The Threat to Wild Crop Relatives

Over 70 wild relatives of some of the world's most crucial crops are threatened with extinction, as per a study launched at the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Marseille¹³. These plants, native to Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras, offer genetic resources needed for breeding crops worldwide with increased resilience to climate change, pests, and diseases.

The Need for Conservation and Agricultural Sectors to Work Together

The findings of these studies have potentially critical implications for livelihoods and food security. It is crucial for the conservation and agricultural sectors to work together to safeguard these crop wild relatives while supporting rural economies and livelihoods¹⁴. These species must be protected on the ground through sustainable and diverse agricultural production. Also, the genetic diversity of crop wild relatives must be better represented in gene banks.

The Situation in the United States

A decade-long study in the United States found that 96% of wild relatives of agricultural crops could be facing an urgent or high need for conservation¹⁵. These plants not only teach us about our anthropological histories, but they also offer a potential solution to food security. Wild varieties of these plants have evolved to survive in varied environmental conditions, making them more resilient to the changing climate, extreme weather, and other threats.

The Path to Remediation

Despite the dire situation, solutions are available. The U.S. has a gene bank system designed to safeguard the genetic diversity of agriculturally important plants. It is also home to hundreds of botanical gardens and vast open spaces. If policymakers put effort into it, these important species can be conserved¹⁶.

In the end, the challenge is to transform the global economy to prioritize ecosystem health, as suggested by United Nations scientists¹⁷. That would involve making food and energy production more land- and water-efficient, limiting waste, and preserving biodiverse lands. Most importantly, we need to reduce our carbon emissions and quit using fossil fuels to curb global warming, otherwise, we'll usher in even more threats.