40% of the world's plant species now face extinction.
State Of The World's Plant and Fungi Report
A new report has been published on the state of the world's plant and fungi species. The Royal Botanic Gardens has published their findings on an assessment of how the world's plant species and fungi species are fairing.
Sadly, it is not good news, as they have found that 40% of the world's plant species are now at risk of extinction.
The report they published is called the 'State of the World's' series. This is the fourth assessment they have published and this is the first time the report combines both plant species and fungi species.
New Discoveries
The report isn't all bad, as thousands of plants and fungi have been scientifically named last year. This includes 1,942 plant species that were named for the first time and 1,886 fungi species that were named for the first time.
Most of the newly named plant and fungi species came from Asia - a total of 41% of the newly named fungi species were from Asia, while 23% were from Europe, 10% North America, 9.5%, 9% Africa, South America, 7% Oceania and 0.5% Antarctica.
With the newly named plants, most of them came from Asia too - with 36% of the newly named plants coming from Asia. While 34% of them came from South America, 12% Africa, 8% Oceania, 5% Africa and 5% in Europe.
Scientists estimate that the vast majority, a massive 90%, of species, remain unknown to scientists. Therefore, there are likely many many more species of plants and fungi that we have not discovered yet!
Why Are Plants and Fungi Threatened With Extinction?
As said, 40% of plants and fungi are thought to be at risk of extinction. That means that 2 out of 5 plant and fungi species are at risk of extinction today.
There are several reasons why plants and fungi are at risk of extinction today. The main threat that they face today is agriculture. Another big risk to these species is habitat destruction. This habitat destruction can be things like people destroying forests and rainforests.
There are many other threats beautiful plants and fungi species face.
If you want to see the full list of threats that they face and the full report about plant and fungi species by the Royal Botanic Gardens, then you can find the report - here.
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