Around 2,000 new plant species are described every year, including many tree species. Whilst some species unknown to science may be well known at a local level, without scientific naming, species cannot be assessed on the IUCN Red List and therefore the capacity to prioritise conservation action and pursue funding to protect these species from extinction is greatly reduced. Often recently described species are at risk before the scientific community is even aware of their existence with many newly described species entering the IUCN Red List in a threatened category.

With so many new trees being described every year, it is incredibly important to prioritise the assessment of these new species for the IUCN Red List. The Global Tree Assessment is contributing to this vital work through collaboration with botanists to assist in the assessment process. When a new species is described, generally the taxonomist responsible will publish a scientific paper. The first step for GTA is then to find these papers and compile a list of new tree species without IUCN assessments. We can then get in touch with the author to check that they are not already compiling an assessment and enquire if they would be willing to help with the assessment process by either being a joint-assessor or reviewer. GTA will then compile the assessment using information supplied by the taxonomist or from the describing paper before sending the assessment to the taxonomist or other specialists for review. The assessment can then be submitted to IUCN for publication.

So far, with the help of regional and taxonomic experts, over 100 newly described tree species have been published on the IUCN Red List through this project and the process is ongoing for many other species.

One example amongst many is the Critically Endangered species Machilus brevipaniculata. This tree was discovered at the foot of Mount Bokor, Cambodia and assessed for the IUCN Red List by the Global Tree Assessment (GTA). The species is threatened by extensive forest clearing and occurs in only one small patch of remnant forest. Conservation action (such as in situ and ex situ conservation measures and habitat restoration) is urgently required to prevent extinction of this tree. Without gathering of this knowledge, the peril of this species would have remained unknown, until most likely it was too late.

Title image – Mount Bokor, at the foot of which Machilus brevipaniculata was discovered.