Reversing Tree Diversity Decline: Why We Need All the Species We’ve Got

Nov 18, 2022

By Monica Evans

In the Curepipe Botanic Gardens on the Indian Ocean island of Mauritius lives the loneliest tree in the world. Propped up by scaffolding, with drooping leaves and a scarred trunk, the ailing 150-year-old palm is the world’s last known specimen of Hyophorbe amaricaulis. To date, no one’s been able to propagate it, so when it dies, that’s the end of the species.

While it might well be lonely, the tree is by no means alone in its predicament. Last year's State of the World's Trees report found that of the more than 60,000 known tree species, at least 17,500 are threatened with extinction, with 440 species down to fewer than 50 individuals left in the wild.

According to a new report, 'Conserving and using tree diversity for global climate change adaptation and food system resilience’,

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Video: California Farm Bureau 2025 Farm Dog of the Year Contest Winner - Willy - CAFB 107th Annual Meeting

Meet Willy: California Farm Bureau’s 2025 Farm Dog of the Year!

We’re excited to introduce Willy, a miniature long-haired dachshund with a big heart and even bigger courage, and the Grand Prize winner of this year’s Farm Dog of the Year Contest!

Willy may be small, but he’s become an indispensable partner on owner Marshal Hagedorn’s forestry and cattle operations in Shasta, Tehama, and Siskiyou counties. Adopted in 2023, he quickly found his place on the ranch, helping manage critters, tagging along for long days in the woods, and offering unwavering companionship during demanding logging work.

Willy has even taken naturally to moving cattle, surprising calves (and more than a few full-grown cows!) with his burst of energy from the tall grass. As Marshal put it: “He goes with me everywhere every single day.”

Congratulations to Willy and his family, a perfect example of how every good farm dog, no matter the size, helps keep California agriculture running strong.