For 192 palm species, Madagascar is the only place on Earth -
and most probably in the Universe - where you can see them
growing in the wild. If we don't get our act together, the
remote possibility of parallel evolution occurring on another
planet may be your only option. Dr Jane Smart, Global Director
of the International Union for Conservation of Nature
Biodiversity Conservation Group says "The figures on
Madagascar's palms are truly terrifying, especially as the loss
of palms impacts the unique biodiversity of the island and its
people. This situation cannot be ignored." Dr Smart is referring
to the latest assessment of rare and threatened species in the
world, the Red List, which concludes that 83% of Madagascar's
palms are likely to become extinct if we do nothing about it.
All 192 species of palm in Madagascar grow there and nowhere
else. The vast majority of them, it seems, will be soon be found
nowhere (on Earth). All up, around the world, 65,518 rare
species are included in this latest version of th