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Botanic gardens 'best hope' for saving plants

Botanic Gardens - Level 0

One in five of the world's plants is in danger. Botanic gardens could save plants. They could help to protect them. These gardens contain about 100,000 kinds of plants, including rare ones. Scientists looked at many plants in botanic gardens. They said they know what plants are missing from botanic gardens.

Botanic gardens may be the best hope for saving endangered plants. If we do not protect plants, we could have problems with food in the future. We will also have problems with climate change. Plants are in danger because of people. We cut down forests for farms and cities.

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Botanic Gardens - Level 1

Many plants are in danger of dying out. A scientist said one in five of the world's plants is in danger. Botanic gardens contain about 100,000 species, including many endangered plants. They help to protect endangered and rare plants. The scientist said: "We have [looked] at the wide range of plants grown, managed and conserved in botanic gardens….We know what we have and, perhaps more importantly, what is missing from botanic gardens."

A researcher said botanic gardens were the best hope for saving endangered plants. He said there was no reason why one-fifth of plants is under threat. If we do not protect plants, we could have trouble finding food in the future. We will also have problems solving problems like climate change. Many plants are in danger because humans cut down forests for farms and cities. Plants are also in danger from climate change.

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Botanic Gardens - Level 2

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Scientists say that many of the world's plants are in danger of dying out – of becoming extinct. Dr Paul Smith said one in five of the world's plants is in danger. Botanic gardens contain about 100,000 species, including a third of all the world's endangered plants. Botanic gardens help to protect many endangered and rare plants. Dr Smith said: "This is the first time that we have [looked] at the wide range of plants grown, managed and conserved in botanic gardens. For the first time we know what we have and, perhaps more importantly, what is missing from botanic gardens."

Researcher Dr Samuel Brockington said botanic gardens were the best hope for saving the world's endangered plants. He said: "One-fifth of plant diversity is under threat, yet there is no technical reason why any plant species should become extinct." If we do not protect plants, people could have trouble finding food in the future. Dr Brockington said: "If we do not conserve our plant diversity, humanity will struggle to solve the global challenges of food…security…and climate change." Plants are in danger because of humans cutting down forests and climate change.

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Botanic Gardens - Level 3

Many of the world's plants are in danger of dying out. A scientist, Dr Paul Smith, said one in five of the world's plants is in danger of extinction. Botanic gardens contain about 100,000 species, including a third of all the world's endangered plants. Botanic gardens help to protect around 40 per cent of endangered species of plants. They contain many of the rarest plants. Dr Smith said: "This is the first time that we have carried out a global assessment to look at the wide range of plants grown, managed and conserved in botanic gardens. For the first time we know what we have and, perhaps more importantly, what is missing from botanic gardens."

Researcher Dr Samuel Brockington said the world's botanic gardens were the best hope for saving the world's most endangered plants. He said: "Currently, an estimated one-fifth of plant diversity is under threat, yet there is no technical reason why any plant species should become extinct." Dr Brockington warned that if we do not protect endangered plants, people could have trouble finding food and fuel in the future. He said: "If we do not conserve our plant diversity, humanity will struggle to solve the global challenges of food and fuel security…and climate change." Most of the plants are in danger because of humans cutting down forests for farming and cities, and because of pests and climate change.

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