By way of the BBC we hear that a new report has found that over half the world’s magnolia species (131 out of 245 according to The Red List of the Magnoliaceae) face extinction in their natural forest habitats because of agriculture and over-exploitation. According to the Botanical Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) and Fauna and Flora International (FFI), magnolias are a highly sensitive indicator of their surrounding environment and their decline does not bode well for the health of the world’s forests.

About two-thirds of known magnolia specias are found in Asia, 40% in China, and half of those face extinction. Similarly, 30% of magnolia native to Columbia are threatened with extinction.

Since magnolia are thriving in captivity the BGCI will launch a survey in China to identify which endangered species need to be brought into botanic gardens to safeguard their future.

We don’t want to live in a world without flowers. It sounds like a tragedy by Ray Bradbury. Magnolias are from a time in the world’s history before things had names and humans had to indicate what they meant by pointing. Magnolias remember what dinosaur footprints look like. Let’s keep them around another few millenia.

Visit BGCI and FFI to find out how you can help.