We would like trees to be immortal, but unfortunately, today we have to face the fact that trees die, and entire species sadly go extinct, just like many other living beings. It’s a slow erosion of our planet’s biodiversity—something that should concern us more than we might imagine. According to recent data, around 30% of the world’s tree species are at risk of extinction. To be more precise, of the approximately 60,065 known tree species, only about 20,000—or 30%—have a conservation status label, and among these, roughly 9,600 are considered threatened.
This doesn’t just mean “we are losing trees”: it means losing ecosystems, meanings, stories, oxygen, and memory.
Extremely restricted distribution: many species exist only in very limited areas.
Multiple threats: often they face not just one threat, but several at once: deforestation, timber extraction, disease, climate change, invasive species.
Low genetic variability: when a species is reduced to only a few individuals, resilience drops.
Importance of both ex situ and in situ conservation: planting new trees alone isn’t enough; protecting, monitoring, and conserving original habitats is crucial.
Key role of local communities: from the Māori in New Zealand to volunteer programs in the United States, human participation makes a difference.
Below, we list what appear to be the 10 most at-risk tree species—ten beautiful yet fragile trees, along with their names, histories, and why they are endangered. For at least one of them, we also suggest how you can help prevent its extinction.
Let’s remember: every tree is a small monument to biodiversity.
Note: the order is arbitrary—it’s not a ranking, but a showcase of emblematic examples.
Perhaps the archetypal story of the “last specimen tree.” This species of tree is known to have only one individual, genetically speaking, known in the wild on Manawatāwhi / Three Kings Islands, off New Zealand.
Escaping—almost miraculously—the goats introduced to the island, it now survives thanks to clones and careful propagation operations.
Why it is at risk: the entire species depends on a single individual, so natural, disease-related, or climate-environmental catastrophes could erase it in an instant.
Why it strikes us: when we say “let’s save a tree,” here it means “let’s save an entire species.”
A magnolia from the Colombian Andes, reaching up to 30 meters, with only about 23 estimated wild specimens.
Why it is significant: many think of “rare” trees as small plants; this one is an imposing tree, but drastically reduced in number. Fragility does not spare tall canopies: climate change and deforestation act everywhere.
A tiny birch, growing on limestone outcrops in two areas of the Honshū mountains. In 1993, only 21 known individuals were counted.
Threats: extremely restricted habitat, genetic self-incompatibility*, and high fragility in the presence of natural or human disturbances.
*Genetic self-incompatibility in plants is a biological mechanism whereby a plant cannot produce seeds through self-pollination, even if it has viable gametes.
A holly species thought extinct for almost two centuries: after the last record in 1836, only four individuals (2 male + 2 female) were found in 2023 near a sugarcane plantation in Pernambuco.
A tropical tree species belonging to the Fabaceae family (legumes), related to trees like acacia or tamarind. It is endemic to Korup Forest, in southwestern Cameroon, one of the oldest and most biodiverse rainforests in Africa.
It was first described only in 2010, after being discovered in Korup National Park—after which it was named. It is extremely rare: only a handful of specimens are known (slightly more than a dozen according to early research), and for this reason, it is considered critically endangered.
Like many Berlinia, it has spectacular flowers with large, asymmetrical white or pink petals, making it very recognizable. It is a living symbol of the fragility of African primary forests: it exists only in one place and depends entirely on the balance of its ecosystem.
A tree endemic to Miranda State (Venezuela), known only from a collection in 1874. Today, its habitat falls almost entirely within urbanized areas. The species is classified as “critically endangered (possibly extinct).”
The loss of habitat linked to increasing human presence on this planet is a fact we cannot pretend not to see, and even less can we pretend it has no impact.
An evergreen conifer endemic to the Apalachicola River region, in Florida and Georgia. The name taxifolia (“yew-leaved”) comes from the fact that its leaves resemble those of Taxus (yew).
It is one of the rarest and most threatened trees in North America: once common along the river, today it survives in a few hundred individuals, mostly as shrubs or coppice sprouts, no longer mature trees.
In the 1950s, a fungal disease (probably Fusarium torreyae) devastated its population. It is now critically endangered (Critically Endangered on the IUCN list).
The nickname “stinking cedar” comes from the pungent smell of its resinous wood.
It is a very ancient tree (the species existed already in the Ice Age) that survives today almost only as coppice sprouts, unable to reach maturity—a bit like a living memory that refuses to disappear.
There is also an interesting movement attempting “assisted migration” of this species, trying to grow it further north (in Carolina, for example) to give it a new chance.
An evergreen conifer, similar to European yews (Taxus baccata), but smaller: usually a shrub or small tree 6–9 meters tall. Prefers shady, humid areas, often on forested slopes or along waterways.
It is extremely rare and threatened: classified as Endangered (at risk of extinction) by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Like other yews, it contains toxic alkaloids (such as taxol), but also compounds with medical potential, studied for cancer treatment.
Its extremely limited distribution and slow reproduction make it very vulnerable to erosion, deforestation, and uncontrolled harvesting.
A tropical evergreen tree of the Fabaceae family, reaching 15–30 meters in height; its wood is very hard and dense. It was endemic to Brazil, particularly the Atlantic Forest, although its original distribution is now greatly reduced.
Historically, it was heavily exploited for timber and to extract brazilein, a very valuable red dye, so much so that Brazil is named after this tree (pau-brasil).
It is classified as Critically Endangered / Endangered, due to historical deforestation and intensive harvesting, and today survives mainly in small protected forest fragments.
It produces woody fruits with a single seed; growth is slow and natural regeneration is difficult. Its wood is still prized for musical instruments, crafts, and restoration, but trade is regulated for its protection.
It represents a national and cultural symbol of Brazil, a tree that tells the story of colonization, natural wealth, and ecosystem fragility.
A tropical evergreen tree of the Meliaceae family. Native to Central and South America—from southern Mexico to Brazil and Bolivia; also introduced to Asia and tropical Africa for commercial cultivation.
It can reach 40–60 meters in height with a notable diameter, with a straight trunk and valuable wood. Known as American mahogany, its wood is highly prized for luxury furniture, musical instruments, and boats.
It is at risk: Vulnerable / Endangered according to the IUCN, due to intensive exploitation and deforestation. Produces capsule fruits with many winged seeds that disperse by wind; natural germination can be slow.
It represents a symbol of tropical forest and the pressure on ecosystems due to intensive logging, but also an example of a species that can survive thanks to sustainable plantations.