Natural History Wanderings

Scientists at Kew Gardens in the UK have conducted a risk assessment on plants and have concluded that more than 20% of the world’s 380,000 plant species are at risk of extinction. The findings were that gymnosperms  (seed-bearing plants) were most at risk.  75% of cycads face a possible risk of extinction.  The biggest threat to plant survival was the loss of natural habitat loss due the increase of agriculture and livestock grazing.  To read more go to  the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species by the IUCN Red List or New study shows over one fifth of the world’s plants are under threat of extinction by Nature News Red listed defines “Endangered taxa are facing imminent extirpation or extinction. Threatened taxa are likely to become endangered if limiting factors are not reversed.”