Disappearing plants jeopardize a green future

STORY: Plant species are disappearing around the world

and it's happening silently

Location: London, England

Scientists at the Royal Bontanic Gardens, Kew say

nearly 800 have disappeared since the 18th century

Thousands more are considered functionally extinct

(Carly Cowell, Conservation policy lead)

“I think the greatest threat immediately to the plants in the world is land use change, be that for agriculture or housing, it's certainly an immediate threat where forests are cut down and pristine grasslands are ploughed.”

At least 40% of the world’s remaining plant species are in trouble

according to Kew's 2020 State of the World’s Plants and Fungi report

Estimates suggest two plant species vanish each year on average