Thousands of researchers have collectively discovered that Earth is home to an astonishing 73,300 tree species of which 9,000 are yet to be officially discovered. This effort signifies a significant victory for conservation. It was made possible by researchers in 90 countries who braved remote locations,
To estimate the number of unknown tree species, the researchers employed techniques inspired by those employed at Bletchley Park during World War II. Data for over 38 million trees was collected; the findings were an improvement on prior estimates, revealing a 14% increase in known tree species. More importantly, it unveiled that a third of these undiscovered species are rare, rendering them vulnerable to extinction due to human-induced changes in land use and the pressing climate crisis.
“It is a massive effort for the whole world to document our forests,” Jingjing Liang, a lead author of the paper and professor of quantitative forest ecology at Purdue University, told The Guardian. “Counting the number of tree species worldwide is like a puzzle with pieces spreading all over the world. We solved it together as a team, each sharing our own piece.”
Notably, 40% of all unknown trees harbored in South American, within the Amazon basin which hosts 200 tree species per hectare.
The breakthrough in estimating the number of unknown species owes itself to the Good-Turing frequency estimation, a statistical theory initially devised by Alan Turing and Irving Good during World War II codebreaking efforts. Adapted by Taiwanese statistician Anne Chao for the study of undiscovered species, this method allowed researchers to extrapolate the existence of rare tree species from data on observed rare species.
This awe-inspiring journey began a decade ago when Liang stumbled upon forgotten data about Alaska's trees. Determined to share this knowledge with the world, he initiated the monumental task of cataloging Earth's trees.
This effort underscores the urgency of conservation efforts.
Source: Weston, Phoebe. The Guardian. "Global count estimates Earth has 73,000 tree species – 14% more than reported". https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/jan/31/global-count-estimates-earth-has-73000-tree-species-bletchley-park-good-turing-frequency-estimation. 31 Jan 2022. [Accessed: 31 Jan 2022].
Edited by Manan Chordia
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