The Red List of Timber Trees compiles information from 4,945 tree species assessed on the IUCN Red List and used for timber. It finds that a third of these tree species (1,664) are threatened with extinction. The timber use, such as logging and wood harvesting, is identified as the most common threat to these timber trees affecting 59% of species. Other major threats include agricultural expansion, urbanisation, changes in fire regime, mining, climate change, and invasive species.

The report also contains a conservation gap analysis, and shows a conservation gap for many timber species. The ex situ survey found that 46% of timber species are not held within an ex situ collection (such as in a seed bank, botanic garden, arboretum etc.). Out of the 1,664 threatened species, 64% are not found in ex situ collections. With 2,219 species (45%) experiencing significant population decline, there is a need for greater conservation action for timber trees.

The report provides, recommendations for conservation action needed by different stakeholders including expansion and support of sustainable use and forest management. Case studies in the report, showcase the vital conservation efforts that are being carried out across the world to save timber species by BGCI members.

This report is an outcome of ‘The Barometer of Life: Global Timbers Species’, along with the Global Tree Assessment which has accelerated the production of IUCN Red List assessments for tree species including those used for timber. Funding for this project was provided by the IUCN – Toyota Red List Partnership and by Fondation Franklinia.

Please cite any use of resources below as: Hills, R., Barstow., M. and Rivers, M. 2022. The Red List of Timber Trees. Botanic Gardens Conservation International, Richmond UK.

Data User Agreement: Please refer to BGCI Data User Agreement when using Appendix 3.