A majority of Madagascar's palms face extinction due to land
clearing, an environment protection group says.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) said
83% of the 192 tree varieties had been added to its threatened species list.
The group called the figures "terrifying", saying
the tree loss also endangered animals and put people's livelihoods at risk.
The findings bring the global number of species at risk of
dying out to 20,219.
The IUCN's global director for biodiversity conservation,
Jane Smart, said the latest study showed the situation could no longer be
ignored.
"The figures on Madagascar's palms are truly
terrifying, especially as the loss of palms impacts both the unique
biodiversity of the island and its people," she said.
Posts
