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To what extent are tree species in Mexico and Central America threatened by extinction?

More than 4,000 tree species are found only in Mexico and Central America, or Mesoamerica. Research published in reveals that nearly half of these tree species are threatened by extinction.

As part of the Global Tree Assessment, an initiative to assess the conservation status of the world's tree species, a group of investigators compiled International Union for the Conservation of Nature's Red List assessments for each species, collating information about species' range, habitat, threats, and conservation actions.

They found that 46% of trees in Mesoamerica are at risk of extinction and that agriculture and logging are the major drivers of decline. Also, most of the threatened tree species do not have targeted conservation actions that might help protect them from extinction.

"With this collaborative effort to assess the conservation status of tree species in Mesoamerica, we can now prioritize conservation actions for the region's most threatened tree species. Now it is possible to pinpoint on a country level which species are most at risk, what threatens them, and what conservation actions are already in place," said corresponding author Emily Beech, of Botanic Gardens Conservation International, in the UK.

"We hope this will inspire further conservation work to prevent tree extinctions."