About GlobalTreeSearch

GlobalTreeSearch is the most comprehensive list of tree species and their country-level distributions. It was published in 2017 following over two years of work gathering both tree species names and their country level distributions. This database is not static and is being continuously updated as new information becomes available. Our intention is for GlobalTreeSearch to be used as a tool for monitoring and managing tree species diversity, forests and carbon stocks on a global, regional or national level. It is also used as the basis of the Global Tree Assessment, coordinated by BGCI and the IUCN/SSC Global Tree Specialist Group (GTSG), which is undertaking conservation assessments for all of the world’s tree species with the aim of having a published IUCN Red List assessment for every tree species by 2023.

The production of GlobalTreeSearch has involved collaboration with very many organisations and individuals as well as the consultation of many sources. A full list of contributors and sources can be found here.

Tree Definition

GlobalTreeSearch uses the tree definition agreed on by IUCN’s Global Tree Specialist Group (GTSG): a woody plant with usually a single stem growing to a height of at least two metres, or if multi-stemmed, then at least one vertical stem five centimetres in diameter at breast height.

Some plant species have variable lifeforms, but all species that are recorded as naturally growing as a tree somewhere have been included, with the reference cited.

Taxonomy

The taxonomic concepts of GlobalTreeSearch originally followed the World Checklist for Selected Plant Families (WCSP) for its published families and for those unpublished families that were not included in WCSP, followed The Plant List (TPL 2013). As The Plant List is no longer being updated, the taxonomy backbone has evolved to incorporate new revisions and taxonomic changes since the release. Plants of the World Online, Tropicos, World Checklist of Vascular Plants and World Flora Online have been important sources of taxonomic consensus. Other regional sources (Euro+Med, Reflora) and taxonomic sources (e.g. ILDIS) have been consulted when required.

Distribution information

Distribution information was recorded following the ISO 3166 country names standard. Distribution information has been recorded to country level for all taxa, with distribution in several countries (Brazil, United States, South Africa, Australia and China) recorded to state or province.

Review

GlobalTreeSearch was sent out for review in 2017 to over 30 experts to identify missing taxa or non-trees and also to review distribution information. Since then, many experts have contributed to improving the data, updating life form, geography and taxonomy.

Any unresolved comments are recorded, as well as any uncertainty about a species (Life form, Geography and Taxonomy).

Updating

The GlobalTreeSearch database is subject to regular updates; to suggest changes to the GlobalTreeSearch database please contact: globaltreesearch@bgci.org.

Citation

Please cite the use of GlobalTreeSearch data as:
BGCI. [YEAR ACCESSED]. GlobalTreeSearch online database.
Botanic Gardens Conservation International. Richmond, UK.
Available at https://tools.bgci.org/global_tree_search.php
Accessed on (DD/MM/YYYY).

Please cite the use of full GlobalTreeSearch data download as:
BGCI. [YEAR ACCESSED]. GlobalTreeSearch online database (version 1.7).
Botanic Gardens Conservation International. Richmond, UK.
DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.34077.79847
Available at https://tools.bgci.org/global_tree_search.php
Accessed on (DD/MM/YYYY).

Data retrieved through GlobalTreeSearch is subject to the BGCI data agreement.

Paper

More information about the methodology and results of GlobalTreeSearch were published in 2017 in the Journal of Sustainable Forestry.
Beech, E., Rivers, M., Oldfield, S., & Smith, P.P. (2017).
GlobalTreeSearch: the first complete global database of tree species and country distributions. Journal of Sustainable Forestry, 36(5): 454-489.
DOI: 10.1080/10549811.2017.1310049