Conserving wildlife since 1903 Towards a Global Tree Conservation atlas Mapping the status and distribution of the world’s threatened tree species Adrian Newton, Sara Oldfield, Gerardo Fragoso, Paul Mathew, Lera Miles, Mary Edwards Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Conserving wildlife since 1903 UNEP World Conservation Fauna & Flora International Monitoring Centre Great Eastern House 219 Huntingdon Road Tenison Road Cambridge CB3 0DL Cambridge CB1 2TT United Kingdom United Kingdom Tel: +44 (0) 1223 277314 Tel: +44 (0) 1223 571000 Fax: +44 (0) 1223 277136 Fax: +44 (0) 1223 461481 E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.unep-wcmc.org Website: www.fauna-flora.org Director: Mark Collins Director: Mark Rose THE UNEP WORLD CONSERVATION MONITORING CENTRE is the FAUNA & FLORA INTERNATIONAL, founded in 1903 and the world’s biodiversity assessment and policy implementation arm of the first international conservation organization, acts to conserve United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the world’s threatened species and ecosystems worldwide, choosing foremost intergovernmental environmental organization. solutions that are sustainable, are based on sound science UNEP-WCMC aims to help decision-makers recognize the and take account of human needs. The organization currently value of biodiversity to people everywhere, and to apply this works in over 60 countries, including more than 25 as part of knowledge to all that they do. The Centre’s challenge is to the Global Trees Campaign. transform complex data into policy-relevant information, to build tools and systems for analysis and integration, and to support the needs of nations and the international community as they engage in joint programmes of action. Contributors Aljos Farjon, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and Chair of the Adrian Newton, Lera Miles, Gerardo Fragoso, Mary Edwards IUCN/SSC Conifer Specialist Group, supplied geographical data UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) on conifers used to build the map on page 9. 219 Huntingdon Road, Cambridge CB3 0DL, UK Tel: +44 (0) 1223 277314 Fax: +44 (0) 1223 277136 Cristian Echeverria, UNEP-WCMC, assisted with the develop- E-mail: [email protected] ment of a series of conifer species maps whilst a Global Trees Campaign bursary scholar supported by the International Sara Oldfield, Paul Mathew Dendrology Society. He also helped prepare information for the Fauna & Flora International (FFI) species profiles, particularly that for Araucaria araucana. Great Eastern House, Tenison Road, Cambridge CB1 2TT, UK Tel: +44 (0) 1223 571000 Fax: +44 (0) 1223 461481 William Oliver and Orlyn Orlanes provided information on E-mail: [email protected] Cinnamomum cebuense. Sponsor Financial support provided by Defra, the UK Government Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, for the development of this document is gratefully acknowledged. The support provided by Defra through the Flagship Species Fund for the conservation of Araucaria araucana and Caesalpinia echinata, which includes refinement of information on the distribution of these species, is also gratefully acknowledged. Available online at: http://www.unep-wcmc.org/resources/ © UNEP-WCMC/FFI 2003 publications/treeatlas Citation: Newton, A., Oldfield, S., Fragoso, G., Mathew, P., Miles, L., & Edwards, M., 2003. A Banson production Towards a Global Tree Conservation Atlas. UNEP-WCMC/FFI. Printed in the UK by Swaingrove Imaging The contents of this report do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of UNEP or contributory organizations. The designations employed and the presentations do not imply the expressions of any opinion whatsoever on the part of UNEP or contributory organizations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or its authority, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Conserving wildlife since 1903 Towards a Global Tree Conservation atlas Mapping the status and distribution of the world’s threatened tree species Adrian Newton, Sara Oldfield, Gerardo Fragoso, Paul Mathew, Lera Miles, Mary Edwards Contents Foreword 3 Introduction 4 Priority areas 9 Priority tree species 10 Species profile: Araucaria araucana 11 Species profile: Swietenia macrophylla 12 Species profile: Cinnamomum cebuense 13 Species profile: Baillonella toxisperma 14 Species profile: Caesalpinia echinata 15 The way ahead 16 References 17 Abbreviations 17 2 Towards a Global Tree Conservation atlas Foreword t is widely recognized that forests are the most is taking action to halt the loss of forest biodiversity and biologically diverse terrestrial ecosystems and that to support rural livelihoods, both essential components of IIpressures on forest biodiversity continue to increase sustainable development as recognized at WSSD. We work throughout the world. Around 350 million of the world’s with a wide range of partners to develop and implement poorest people depend almost entirely on forests for their tree species and habitat conservation programmes. We also basic needs and 2 billion people depend on wood for provide decision-making support tools and information to cooking and fuel. The Plan of Implementation of the World assist policy development and implementation relating Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) notes that: to sustainable forest management. We believe that the development of map-based Forests and trees cover nearly one third of the information products for tree species will strongly support Earth’s surface. Sustainable forest management the implementation of international agreements and of both natural and planted forests and for timber conventions, notably the Convention on Biological Diversity and non-timber products is essential to achieving (CBD) and the Convention on International Trade in sustainable development and is a critical means to: Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), at ❏ eradicate poverty; national, regional and international levels. Development of ❏ significantly reduce deforestation; a Global Tree Conservation Atlas will highlight the value of ❏ halt the loss of forest biodiversity; tree species to human society and will directly support ❏ halt land and resource degradation; action to prevent tree species extinctions. ❏ improve food security and access to safe We believe that the Global Tree Conservation Atlas drinking water and affordable energy. will be of outstanding value in supporting future efforts aimed at the conservation and sustainable use of tree Achievement of sustainable forest management, species. We commend it strongly to you for support. nationally and globally, including through partner- ships among interested governments and stake- holders, including the private sector, indigenous and local communities and non-governmental Mark Collins organizations, is an essential goal of sustainable Director development. UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre UNEP-WCMC and FFI are working together to Mark Rose support the conservation of trees and forests around the Director world through the Global Trees Campaign. The Campaign Fauna & Flora International 3 Towards a Global Tree Conservation atlas Introduction ree species are important for the well-being of people Information about tree species reinforces the in all countries, particularly in the humid tropics and information needed to conserve habitats and ecosystems. TTarid landscapes around the world. Many tree species Various initiatives (SBSTTA, 1996; Lammerts van Bueren are of major economic importance as the source of products and Duivenvoorden, 1996) have suggested that tree species such as timber, fruits, nuts, resins and gums. Worldwide, diversity can be used as a surrogate for overall species 2 billion people depend on wood for cooking and fuel; diversity in forest ecosystems. Information on the distri- millions of others depend on trees for food and medicines. bution of restricted range species can be used to determine Trees are also the structural components of forests, patterns of biodiversity and define priority areas for providing a habitat for many other species and defining the conservation. Tree species information also provides a characteristics of forest ecosystems. crucial link with information on patterns of genetic Information is limited on the distribution and resources within forest ecosystems. conservation status of tree species. Preliminary surveys This summary document outlines the need for spatial undertaken to date suggest that approximately 8,000 tree data on tree species as a tool for conservation action. It species are threatened with extinction worldwide. The introduces plans for a tree species mapping programme that potential loss of nearly 10 per cent of all tree species is a will build on the forest mapping information management major conservation issue, requiring international attention expertise of UNEP-WCMC. A Global Tree Conservation Atlas and widespread action. will be produced as an output of the mapping programme and The Global Trees Campaign is a joint initiative will be one of the main information outputs of the Global developed by UNEP-WCMC and FFI in partnership with a Trees Campaign. The mapping programme will provide: wide range of other organizations around the world. The ❏ maps of threatened tree species as a tool for aim of the Campaign is to save the world's most threatened conservation and management planning; tree species and the habitats in which they grow