Story at a glance
- More than 100 scientists from around the world came together to establish a massive forest database.
- Their research led them to estimate there are about 73,000 tree species on Earth, while another 9,200 remain undiscovered.
- Researchers say most of the undiscovered trees are likely in South America
More than 100 scientists from around the world estimate there are about 9,200 tree species yet to be discovered, most of them likely to be considered rare.
Tree diversity is fundamental for forest ecosystem stability as researchers explained in a newly published study that documents the largest forest database yet. It estimates there are about 73,000 tree species on Earth, while an additional 9,200 remain yet to be discovered.
Scientists explained that one of the most fundamental questions in ecology is how many species inhabit the Earth, but due to massive logistical and financial challenges and taxonomic difficulties, the number of species remains unknown. Researchers attempted to solve that using global ground-sourced data they estimated the total tree species at the global, continental and biome levels.
“By establishing a quantitative benchmark, this study could contribute to tree and forest conservation efforts and the future discovery of new trees and associated species in certain parts of the world,” Peter Reich, director of the Institute for Global Change Biology at the University of Michigan and one of two senior authors of the study, said in a statement.
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Researchers describe their estimate of 73,000 worldwide tree species as conservative, despite their study using a more extensive dataset and advanced statistical methods than previous attempts to estimate Earth’s tree diversity. Reich said his team used modern developments of techniques first created by mathematician Alan Turing during World War II to crack the Nazi code.
Roughly 40 percent of the undiscovered tree species are likely in South America, the largest estimated share compared to any other continent. Researchers said South America is also the continent with the highest estimated number of rare tree species with about 8,200, as well as the highest estimated percentage of continentally endemic tree species at 49 percent, which means species found only on that continent.
Hot spots of undiscovered South American trees are likely to include tropical and subtropical moist forests of the Amazon basin and the Andean forests at elevations between about 3,300 feet to 11,480 feet.
“This makes forest conservation of paramount priority in South America, especially considering the current tropical forest crisis from anthropogenic impacts such as deforestation, fires and climate change,” Reich said.
Worldwide, roughly half to two-thirds of all known tree species are found in tropical and subtropical moist forests. However, researchers said tropical and subtropical dry forests also likely hold high numbers of undiscovered tree species as well.
Forests rich with trees offer “ecosystem services” to humanity for free, as researchers said in addition to supplying timber, fuelwood, fiber and other products, trees also clean the air, filter water and help control erosion and flooding.
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