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Report: AI Reveals 30,000 Plant Species Face Extinction
AI analysis of 145 million digitised specimens helped scientists identify major knowledge gaps and faster assess extinction risk, Kew said.
- The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew released a report this week showing how technology is transforming conservation efforts, with more than 145 million specimens now digitised and available to scientists globally.
- Kew invested in the biggest scientific project in its 267-year history, opening every cupboard and box to scan its 7.4 million-strong herbarium and fungarium collection at 40 imaging stations.
- AI models now identify the correct place in the "Tree of Life" for millions of plants and fungi, while scientists are unlocking the "dark matter of fungi" using samples up to 180 years old.
- Researchers named more than 12,000 species new to science in 2024 and 2025, though Alexandre Antonelli, Kew's executive director of science, said discoveries are "just scratching the surface" as many newly described species face extinction.
- Global studies reveal flowering times shifted by 2.5 days per decade, disrupting plant-pollinator relationships, while the International Union reports nearly 30,000 plant species are threatened with extinction.
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16 Articles
16 Articles
AI and digitization transform fight against global extinction, landmark report reveals
The sixth State of the World’s Plants and Fungi report, published 16 June 2026 by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, brings together expertise from over 400 scientists across 40 countries to explore how new technology is transforming the race to save nature. The report argues technology can be nature’s ally, with digital tools exposing critical gaps in scientific knowledge and highlighting where action is most urgent…
·Washington, United States
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Report reveals how digital tools are transforming biodiversity crisis response
Scientists who study plant physiology and evolution have a new tool in their toolkit: a machine learning algorithm that can scan digital plant specimen collections and quickly measure leaf size and thickness.
·United Kingdom
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Total News Sources16
Leaning Left2Leaning Right0Center8Last UpdatedBias Distribution80% Center
Bias Distribution
- 80% of the sources are Center
80% Center
L 20%
C 80%
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