Over 8,000 tree species are threatened by extinction. Each individual species faces particular threats and challenges, for example:

• Highly sought-after hardwood species, such as the Honduran rosewood, are selectively logged for their valuable timber
• Extraction of non timber forest products, such as the anti-cancer agent taxol produced by yew trees, often kills the host tree
• A warming climate threatens montane species, such as the devil’s hand tree, that already occupy the upper limits of their natural range. With a warming climate, these species have no place to go

In this document we argue that conservation of forest habitat does not guarantee the survival of the full diversity of tree species. We provide examples of where tailoring conservation towards individual species can complement a landscape level approach and advocate for increased conservation attention for individual tree species.