A team of botanists from three continents set out in search of Karomia gigas, a Critically Endangered tree with fewer than 20 remaining individuals estimated to be surviving in the wild. Emily Beech describes the trials and tribulations in the search for the seed. In October 2016, GTC led a survey trip to look for Karomia gigas, a tree now found only in southeast Tanzania. An expert team, including representatives from Missouri Botanical Garden,…
In May 2017, Imperial College London master’s student Brett Wilson undertook Global Trees Campaign sponsored fieldwork in Kyrgyzstan’s fruit and nut forest to find one of the rarest wild apples on the planet. In this blog, he shares his experiences and describes what his research means for a species on the edge. A forgotten world Apples are one of the world’s most recognised fruits and in today’s age are harvested extensively across the world. H…
Until recently, Betula megrelica – a birch species endemic to the Caucasus – was only known to grow on two mountains in north-west Georgia. But the discovery of a new population this autumn by a team of Georgian and UK botanists has raised hopes for the future of this Endangered tree species. Betula megrelica trees are true mountaineers of the plant world. They can be found clinging to steep slopes at altitudes between 1500-2000m, their stems of…
Last summer, five UK dendrologists embarked on a three-week expedition to the Pacific north-west coast of the USA, travelling 4000 miles, securing seed for tree species’ futures. Representatives from GTC partners the Forestry Commission’s Bedgebury National Pinetum and Oxford University Botanic Gardens Harcourt Arboretum, along with the Forestry Commission’s Westonbirt National Arboretum, visited three states (Washington State, Oregon and Calif…
In 2016, GTC awarded Oxford University Masters student, Daniela Requena Suarez, with a grant to support her research on a group of threatened tree species in the Peruvian Amazon. In this blog, she shares insights into her research and tells us what seed collection can mean for the conservation of these amazing trees. Not all trees are equal in the Amazon. Shihuahuaco (Dipteryx sp.) trees grow to be giants, many reaching 60 meters in heigh…
…many species conservation projects is to carry out a population survey. In 2016, GTC and our partners set out in search of rare trees in Cuba, Japan and Vietnam. Our partner Planta! went in search of the rare Tetralix nipensis in Cuba. With only six individual trees known to exist in the wild – all found in dry, thorny, thickets – this survey was no easy task. Surveying a previously unexplored area resulted in a huge boost for the species with 18…
…forests certified as well-managed under the Forest Stewardship Council scheme. Contribute to conservation as you search the internet Use this environmentally friendly search engine called ecosia to plant trees as you browse the web. Campaign for better international legislation There have been many tentative pledges by governments to curb illegal logging, but by keeping the pressure on, more of these pledges will be result in action. Campaigns ru…
The known population size of the Critically Endangered Yuanbaoshan fir more than doubled following expeditions in Yuanbaoshan National Nature Reserve (NNR). Project Manager, Xiaoya Li explains what this discovery means and how it will influence their conservation. The future of the Yuanbaoshan fir (Abies yuanbaoshanensis), a Critically Endangered tree species found in a single nature reserve in China (Yuanbaoshan NNR), received a boost late in 2…
Fauna & Flora International’s Dave Gill explains why a breakthrough by Guangxi Institute of Botany scientists could help save one of China’s most threatened tree species. In a ramshackle restaurant in Ziyuan town, Guangxi, three botanists wait patiently for me to finish my breakfast. Ignoring the noodles slipping between my chopsticks and splattering the table around me, Gu Yu – project officer for Fauna & Flora International (FFI) in Ch…
Tsenden, Bhutan’s national tree, is considered sacred in Bhutanese culture and religion. It is Buddhist belief that Tsenden was first brought to Bhutan by Guru Rinpoche, an 8th century Indian Buddhist master, in the form of his walking stick. Alongside naturally occurring strands, the trees have been widely planted close to Buddhist Dzongs (temples) and monasteries. Many of them have now grown to spectacular heights and are associated with impor…
Welcome to the Global Tree Specialist Group (GTSG) Members Section. This is an area of the Global Trees website available to members of the Global Trees Specialist Group. We have created this space to allow us to share information with the group and to facilitate open discussions within the group. We are also launching a Species Maps section which has distribution maps of species being red listed by the Global Trees Specialist Group. A map is re…
The ArbNet website has recently been updated, making it easier to use and expanding the resources available to support the common purposes and interests of tree-focused public gardens. The ArbNet website has been organised into new sections, allowing for quicker navigation to find the information you are looking for. ArbNet can now be used in many languages with a translation tool built into the website, facilitating its use worldwide. It is now…