title: Green Plants in the Red: A Baseline Global Assessment for the IUCN Sampled Red List Index for Plants.
abstract: Plants provide fundamental support systems for life on Earth and are the basis for all terrestrial ecosystems; a decline in plant diversity will be detrimental to all other groups of organisms including humans. Decline in plant diversity has been hard to quantify, due to the huge numbers of known and yet to be discovered species and the lack of an adequate baseline assessment of extinction risk against which to track changes. The biodiversity of many remote parts of the world remains poorly known, and the rate of new assessments of extinction risk for individual plant species approximates the rate at which new plant species are described. Thus the question 'How threatened are plants?' is still very difficult to answer accurately. While completing assessments for each species of plant remains a distant prospect, by assessing a randomly selected sample of species the Sampled Red List Index for Plants gives, for the first time, an accurate view of how threatened plants are across the world. It represents the first key phase of ongoing efforts to monitor the status of the world's plants. More than 20% of plant species assessed are threatened with extinction, and the habitat with the most threatened species is overwhelmingly tropical rain forest, where the greatest threat to plants is anthropogenic habitat conversion, for arable and livestock agriculture, and harvesting of natural resources. Gymnosperms (e.g. conifers and cycads) are the most threatened group, while a third of plant species included in this study have yet to receive an assessment or are so poorly known that we cannot yet ascertain whether they are threatened or not. This study provides a baseline assessment from which trends in the status of plant biodiversity can be measured and periodically reassessed.
authors.affiliation: Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, South Kensington, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Neil A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Brummitt
authors.affiliation: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, United Kingdom; School of Geography, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Steven P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Bachman
authors.affiliation: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Janine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Griffiths-Lee
authors.affiliation: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Maiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lutz
authors.affiliation: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, United Kingdom; School of Geography, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Justin F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Moat
authors.affiliation: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Aljos
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Farjon
authors.affiliation: South African National Biodiversity Institute, KRC, Private Bag X7, Claremont, South Africa.
authors.forename: John S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Donaldson
authors.affiliation: IUCN Red List Unit, Sheraton House, Castle Park, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Craig
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hilton-Taylor
authors.affiliation: School of Biology, Dyers Brae, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Fife, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Thomas R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Meagher
authors.affiliation: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Albuquerque
authors.affiliation: Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, South Kensington, London, United Kingdom; Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, United Kingdom; King's College London, Strand, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Elina
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Aletrari
authors.affiliation: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: A Kei
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Andrews
authors.affiliation: Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, South Kensington, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Guy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Atchison
authors.affiliation: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Baloch
authors.affiliation: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Barlozzini
authors.affiliation: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Alice
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brunazzi
authors.affiliation: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Carretero
authors.affiliation: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Celesti
authors.affiliation: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chadburn
authors.affiliation: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cianfoni
authors.affiliation: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cockel
authors.affiliation: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Vanessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Coldwell
authors.affiliation: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Benedetta
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Concetti
authors.affiliation: Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, South Kensington, London, United Kingdom; Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Contu
authors.affiliation: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Vicki
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Crook
authors.affiliation: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Philippa
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dyson
authors.affiliation: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Lauren
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gardiner
authors.affiliation: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ghanim
authors.affiliation: Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, South Kensington, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Hannah
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Greene
authors.affiliation: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Alice
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Groom
authors.affiliation: Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, South Kensington, London, United Kingdom; Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Harker
authors.affiliation: Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, South Kensington, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Della
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hopkins
authors.affiliation: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Khela
authors.affiliation: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Poppy
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lakeman-Fraser
authors.affiliation: Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, South Kensington, London, United Kingdom; Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lindon
authors.affiliation: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lockwood
authors.affiliation: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Loftus
authors.affiliation: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Debora
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lombrici
authors.affiliation: Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, South Kensington, London, United Kingdom; Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lopez-Poveda
authors.affiliation: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lyon
authors.affiliation: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Malcolm-Tompkins
authors.affiliation: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Kirsty
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: McGregor
authors.affiliation: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Moreno
authors.affiliation: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Murray
authors.affiliation: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Keara
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nazar
authors.affiliation: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Power
authors.affiliation: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Mireya
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Quiton Tuijtelaars
authors.affiliation: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Salter
authors.affiliation: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Segrott
authors.affiliation: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Hannah
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Thacker
authors.affiliation: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Leighton J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.affiliation: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tingvoll
authors.affiliation: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Gemma
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Watkinson
authors.affiliation: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Katerina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wojtaszekova
authors.affiliation: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Eimear M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Nic Lughadha
mesh_terms: D044822:Biodiversity; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D016208:Databases, Factual; D017753:Ecosystem; D056727:Endangered Species; D053476:Extinction, Biological; D005843:Geography; D065947:Rainforest; D014329:Tropical Climate; D057948:Viridiplantae / Q000145:classification*