Posted on 09/30/2010 5:47:56 AM PDT by Libloather
A fifth of world's plant species at risk of extinction
The Irish Times - Thursday, September 30, 2010
LONDON – ONE in five of the world’s 380,000 plant species is threatened with extinction and human activity is doing most of the damage, according to a global study published yesterday.
Scientists from Britain’s Botanic Gardens at Kew, London’s Natural History Museum and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), found that more than 22 per cent of species were endangered, critically endangered or vulnerable.
“The single greatest threat is conversion of natural habitats to agricultural use, directly impacting 33 per cent of threatened species,” the report said.
The findings were released ahead of a United Nations summit scheduled for mid-October in Nagoya, Japan, where governments are due to set new targets for trying to conserve more of the world’s plants and animals.
“We cannot sit back and watch plant species disappear – plants are the basis of all life on earth, providing clean air, water, food and fuel. All animal and bird life depends on them and so do we,” said Stephen Hopper, Kew’s director.
The scientists used data analysed in a five-year study to draw up what they called a “Sampled Red List Index for Plants” which will be added to a series of IUCN “Red Lists” that are designed to help monitor the changing status of the world’s major groups of plants, fungi and animals.
(Excerpt) Read more at irishtimes.com ...
Wait just a second - cows are suddenly off the hook? Its hard to keep track of all this breaking news.
plants aren’t to blame anymore?
I thought liberals were plants?
The reaso9n for agriculture invasion on forest -ETHANOL!! Time to end that crappy idea that ruins engines.
I hope privet is in that fifth. That stuff is impossible to get rid of. I've tried Round Up, Gly 4, Spike, burning it, mowing it (repeatedly), digging it up, you name it and it always comes back....
Vegans should have to pay higher taxes.
And of course, the squirrels.
The ones that I have encountered all seem to have the IQ of a potted plant.....
And how many new species show up in their place? Another gov. funded study of nothing. Environmentalist waste more resources than anyone else without producing anything worthwhile.
Personally, I hate euonymous and could live happily ever after never seeing it again.
vegetables
Has a familiar ring...something about 'models for global warming'....scientists should tread carefully here, as some plants can and do think for them selves....only scientists who need grants need apply for the research needed, if research is indeed used............
and a lot of fruits
I promise to spend as much time in my lazy-boy, doing as little as possible to save the plants.
So essential plant life being cleared for the growing of ingredients to make Ethanol eh.
Another “unintended consequence” by Liberal mush heads.
The blame lies with MEDICAL SCIENCE. As researchers and doctors solve the mysteries of one deasease after another, the human population rises decade after decade. How long is the historical list of “causes of death” that have been removed from the threat board? At one time a simple cut finger lead to blood poisoning that led to death, and the population did not grow.
Then greedy medical researchers and doctors seeking to expand their income cause an out of control rise in population of people who selfishly demanded a steady supply of food.
That’s where the problem lies.
(HUGE sarcasm intended)
What I find odd is that the scientific community usually believes in evolution but always seems panicked about possible extinction. Isn’t extinction part of the evolutionary equation? If something can’t adapt, it dies off and becomes food for other organisms.
plants “eat” CO2, why do “global climate disruption” believers want to starve the “endangered” flora? Then they want your $$$ to make up for your disrespect of the weeds. Those evil ba$!@^&s believe in evolution so let the weeds go down with the Dodo.
They act as if farm crops aren’t plants, and look, they are saying that plants are essential to life on earth. Would that be because they take CO2 and turn it into oxygen? Nahhh, couldn’t be, CO2 is bad and serves no useful purpose in the chain of life on earth/SAR.
Yes, yes, yes, we’re doomed!
But... for a fat government grant, employment for life, plus an office and a secretary, several lab assistants, an enormous lab and a mountain of equipment, plus health insurance and a company car, I can solve the problem for you....
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