Westonbirt Arboretum’s new book highlights global issue of disappearing trees

Did you know that as many as one in three of the world’s tree species are threatened with extinction?

Westonbirt, The National Arboretum currently cares for over 100 threatened tree species and their latest edition of ‘The Little Book of Disappearing Trees’ is now available to purchase.

The collection of 15,000 specimen trees at Westonbirt Arboretum is of national and international significance. Contained within the collection are over 100 species that are classified as threatened and in need of conservation. More than 17,500 of the world’s 60,000 tree species are at risk of extinction in the wild due to extreme weather, habitat loss and timber exploitation, as well as the global spread of pests and disease. 

But all is not lost! Thankfully, there are ways to turn the tide on the decline of the wonderful world of trees. Even if it might seem like a massive challenge, we can all make small differences to create a big change. That change begins with understanding which trees are under threat. 

And that’s where The Little Book of Disappearing Trees can help. This beautifully designed, photo-illustrated and easy-to-read book introduces some of the threatened tree species cared for at this Forestry England site. The book outlines Westonbirt Arboretum’s role in tree conservation and the partnership work that is being carried out both nationally and internationally to understand, research and care for threatened species. There are also some useful hints and tips about what we can all do to help combat the threats that trees face.

Co-author for the book, Dan Crowley, Global Conservation Consortia Manager at Botanic Gardens Conservation International says: “Growing threatened species in collections like Westonbirt Arboretum is an essential ‘insurance policy’ for these species. By caring for threatened trees in the arboretum collection, we can learn more about them, as well as making material available for research and wild re-introductions.

‘The Little Book of Disappearing Trees’, profiles 50 threatened species that grow at Westonbirt. It details each species’ plight, as well as information on how they are being conserved and explains some of the work we are involved with in partnership with other botanic gardens.”

Support the tree conservation work being carried out at Westonbirt Arboretum by purchasing ‘The Little Book of Disappearing Trees’, available now from the Westonbirt Shop, and discover what is being done to halt the decline of our threatened trees.