3 in 4 Undescribed Vascular Plants At Risk of Extinction Amidst Threats of Climate Change, Habitat Loss

The latest report showed that about three in the four undescribed vascular plants could be at risk of extinction due to threats of climate change and habitat loss.

Plant species are crucial in the environment and society. It is a significant habitat for many species and a food source. In addition, the ecological part of plants helps to improve air quality.

As a result, experts have been researching known and unknown species of plants. Understanding different plant species can mitigate potential threats amidst the challenging rise of global temperatures.

Urgent conservation efforts of plants

A recent report in New Phytologist and Plants, People, Planet journal uncovers the different plant diversity and distribution. It unveils the potential risks they fact and urgent conservation efforts.

Meanwhile, researchers estimated that at least three in four undescribed vascular plants are threatened with extinction.

• There are about 100,00 vascular plants without names yet.
• There are about 350,000 vascular plant species that are already known.
• There are more than two million fungal species.

The emergence of vascular plants is vital to food sources and contributes to the earth's biomass, especially the said plants can live for a long time and grow more.

According to Alexandre Antonelli, there is a need to act fast for conservation efforts. Increasing the understanding of plant and fungal diversity can also assist researchers. Antonelli is also the RBG Kew's Director of Science.

The report recently unveiled the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP) and State of Fungi and Plants. The said checklist resulted from over 35 years of efforts from the experts.

Furthermore, the researchers uncovered the potential extinction risks according to IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and WCVP.

The assessment urges protection efforts amidst habitat loss and climate change threats, especially for the undescribed vascular plants.

More about fungi and flowering plants

New species of fungi have been known to science since 2020. The increasing population of fungal species shows the urgent need for identification for potential conservation, noting over 2 million fungi species.

In addition, the advancement in DNA metabarcoding and tools fast-tracked the discoveries of new fungi species. After identifying the fungi, researchers can explore their role in society.

Meanwhile, the flowering plants have managed to thrive million years ago. Researchers observed that about 45% of flowering plant species known to science could suffer from threats of extinction, including the rare orchids, Bromeliaceae and Piperaceae.

With the developing compilation checklist of plants, researchers can monitor them better for conservation. It can also assist other researchers or studies exploring specific fungi or vascular plant species.

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