Scientists at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew have warned that 45% of the world's known flowering plants could be threatened with extinction. The study, which involved 200 scientists across 30 countries, found that orchids, pineapple varieties, and many important crop species are among those at risk.
Of the nearly 19,000 new plants and fungi species discovered since 2020, 77% are thought to be endangered. Dr Matilda Brown, conservation specialist at RBG Kew, said plants underpin every aspect of humanity but are increasingly threatened by climate change and biodiversity loss. She warned that losing half of all future medicines is a potential consequence, as nine out of ten medicines come from plants.
Researchers cross-referenced data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants with the IUCN Red List to make predictions about extinction risk. The analysis also suggests there may be 2.5 million species of fungi worldwide, with 90% yet to be discovered. A backlog of around 100,000 new plant species remains to be formally classified, and the Kew team recommends they be automatically considered threatened unless proven otherwise.
The report identified over 30 global 'darkspots' in countries rich in wildlife that botanists have not yet explored, particularly in tropical Asia, including New Guinea and Vietnam. Dr Samuel Pironon from RBG Kew and UNEP-WCMC said knowing where species remain unnamed and unmapped is crucial for prioritising conservation areas.
The fungal kingdom is described as the 'next frontier in biodiversity science'. Scientists analysed environmental DNA from soil samples and used genomics and machine learning. Only 155,000 fungi species have been named, but their potential includes plastic consumption and drug discovery. The report also marks the realisation of 'Darwin's dream'—a comprehensive plant database, the World Checklist of Vascular Plants, resulting from 35 years of work by senior botanist Rafael Govaerts.
