Climate change threatens global plant species as habitats shrink
Climate change poses a significant threat to global plant species as their habitats continue to shrink. Researchers found that a substantial percentage of plants could lose most of their range, leading to high extinction risks. The study highlights the complex interplay between climate change and plant dispersal, suggesting that simply assisting species in moving may not suffice to prevent extinction.
- ▪Researchers found that 7 percent to 16 percent of plants could lose more than 90 percent of their range, placing them at high risk of extinction.
- ▪The study examined over 67,000 species of vascular plants, which account for nearly all known plant species.
- ▪Climate change is shrinking the combinations of conditions that plants need to survive, making it difficult for them to adapt.
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Climate change threatens global plant species as habitats shrinkSign up now: Get insights on Asia's fast-moving developmentsResearchers found that 7 per cent to 16 per cent of plants could lose more than 90 per cent of their range, placing them at high risk of extinction. PHOTO: REUTERSPublished May 23, 2026, 06:05 PMUpdated May 23, 2026, 06:16 PMListenWASHINGTON - Some of the plants that make familiar landscapes recognisable may not survive by century’s end as climate change becomes an increasingly important driver of species loss, according to scientists, reshaping and often shrinking suitable habitats that the plants need to survive.Researchers modelled future ranges for numerous species of vascular plants, a category that accounts for almost all the world’s plants - those with water-…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Straits Times — World.