WASHINGTON, D.C.—Trees are facing increasing threats globally, including habitat loss, changes in land use, climate change, and pests and diseases. Natural resources managers of forests, grasslands and botanical gardens now have a new resource to help inform their effort to conserve imperiled tree species. To facilitate conservation planning, the new Conservation Gap Analysis of U.S. Trees in Nine Priority Genera analysis presents a process for identifying and prioritizing the most urgent conservation needs of at-risk tree groups in the United States. This compilation of reports was developed by the USDA Forest Service, Institute of Museum and Library Services, The Morton Arboretum and Botanic Gardens Conservation International U.S.

The reports highlight several priority species, including hickory, beech, walnut, pine, yew and laurel, selected in collaboration with stakeholders due to their economic importance and the threats they face from emerging pests and diseases, or difficulties conserving their seeds in long-term storage. With more than 800 native tree species in the continental United States and more than 60,000 globally, prioritizing species and conservation activities is vital for effectively using limited resources. Scientists have summarized the ecology and distribution of and threats to these species based on data gathered from a global survey of tree specimens and a conservation action questionnaire distributed to a range of U.S. conservation practitioners and international botanical gardens.

Results from the analysis provide natural resource land managers with a roadmap for implementing the crucially important conservation actions necessary to protect selected American trees. Cross-sector collaboration will be critical to these efforts. Tapping the unique strengths and resources of a range of sectors, such as arboreta and botanical gardens, private companies, non-governmental organizations, governing bodies (city, county, state, national) and universities, has proven to be an efficient, effective way to conserve biodiversity.

By providing actionable recommendations and a list of stakeholders currently engaged in conservation efforts for selected American tree species of conservation concern, these reports aim to catalyze efforts to preserve keystone tree species for generations to come.