Scientists say two-fifths of the world's plants are at risk of extinction. Their research is called the State of the World's Plants and Fungi. The scientists analysed plants in 42 countries. A top botanist said: "We are living in an age of extinction....We're losing the race against time because species are disappearing....Many of them could [solve]...challenges of medicine and even perhaps of the emerging and current pandemics we are seeing today."
There are positive signs. Over 4,000 species were discovered in 2019. These include foods that could help millions of people suffering from poverty. The botanist said it was important to protect all plant life. He said: "We would not be able to survive without plants and fungi – all life depends on them. Every time we lose a species, we lose an opportunity for humankind." Leading scientists met to ask world leaders to act against biodiversity loss.