endangered Plants

An Endangered (EN) species faces a very high risk of extinction in the wild. It sits one step below Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List.

A plant is classified as Endangered if its wild population has declined by 50–70% over the past decade, if fewer than 250 mature individuals remain, or if its area of occupancy has become critically small or highly fragmented.

Endangered plants face the same threats as Critically Endangered species — habitat destruction, climate change, invasive species, and human activity. 

The difference is one of degree and time: without intervention, Endangered species can move to Critically Endangered within a generation.

• Deforestation remains the leading driver of plant endangerment globally
• Climate change is accelerating the movement of species into higher-risk categories
• Many Endangered plants are known from only a handful of populations in one country or region
• Conflict zones often contain high concentrations of Endangered species that receive no protection during or after conflict

Oya's educational hub at learn.oyatees.org explores these threats in depth — including how satellite imagery is used to document habitat loss in real time.