54 Asian oak species reviewed: 40 have no backup, 1 may be extinct in the wild
A study of 54 Asian oak species reveals that 74% lack representation in botanical gardens, leaving them vulnerable to extinction. Researchers warn that urgent conservation efforts are needed to protect these species, particularly in Southeast and East Asia.
Why it matters
The loss of these oak species represents a significant threat to biodiversity in a region already identified as a hotspot for endangered trees.
A detailed study of 54 Asian oak species has found that 40 have no living backup in any botanical garden around the world. This means that nearly three-quarters of the trees could disappear completely if their wild populations are lost.One of the species studied has not been seen for almost 90 years and may already be extinct in the wild.The findings come from a new report, Conservation Gap Analysis of Select Native Asian Oaks, published by scientists at The Morton Arboretum along with regional conservation partners.The study looked at threatened oak species across East and Southeast Asia, the region with the highest number of endangered oak species in the world.Researchers studied species listed as Threatened or Data Deficient on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List across 14 regions: Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar, Brunei, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines, Timor-Leste, South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan.Sharp contrast…
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