Raising awareness through the Global Tree Assessment: Extinction risk of six fully assessed tree groups

Societal Impact Statement Trees are essential to life on earth—playing important economic, ecological and cultural roles. However, the world is facing a biodiversity crisis, be able effectively conserve tree species with limited funds, we need know which threatened. The Global Tree Assessment has addressed this gap in knowledge through accelerating production of International Union for Conservation Nature (IUCN) Red List assessments. Analysing results completed taxonomic groups allows targeted conservation. Here, explore extinction risk six understudied genera ethnobotanical uses, allowing conservation priorities set. Summary To highlight ongoing progress Assessment, synthesis data been produced (Gilbertiodendron, Humiriastrum, Liquidambar, Nectandra, Teijsmanniodendron Tilia) have all their assessed. This was used analyse within these aim setting raising awareness not previously publicised Assessment. were chosen based completeness, terms number published IUCN categories, threats uses from each species' assessment analysed. An ex situ survey also carried out identify found botanic gardens, arboreta seed banks. Higher threat levels predominately tropical Nectandra Teijsmanniodendron) compared broadly more temperate (Tilia Liquidambar). Habitat loss due agriculture major exploitation key Gilbertiodendron Tilia. Gilbertiodendron, no threatened conserved collections. We identified range measures, including collecting conservation, ensure becomes extinct.