IUCN Task Force for the preservation of old trees

Old trees play numerous ecological roles, being biodiversity hotspots critical to the survival of hundreds of species of saproxylic invertebrates, a wide range of fungi and an assortment of tree-associated vertebrates like bats, woodpeckers and other hole-nesting birds. Unfortunately, these trees have undergone a marked decline for diverse reasons; the most important ones being the establishment of modern forestry and agriculture accompanied by the abandonment of traditional forest uses, which results in a decline of associated biodiversity.

 

Having this in mind, part of the researchers from BioSense institute is included in the establishment of an Old Trees Task Force within the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), with the idea to bring representatives from different areas of expertise, who would act together in creating a global inventory of old trees and conduct a global status assessment that may be used to inform policy. This would present the a significant step in the preservation of not only old trees, but biodiversity in general.