Plants at risk: 20 percent of species could become extinct

A study by the International Union for Conservation of Nature shows that two out of ten plants could disappear. Watch the video and said.

The BBC has just broadcast a report by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). After analyzing four thousand species of plants, the outlook is grim: An estimated one in five plants are at risk of disappearing .

"This study confirms what we already suspected, that the plants are threatened and that the main cause is habitat loss induced by human beings," said the director of Kew Gardens, Stephen Hopper, who led the research.

According to the report, the seed-producing plants (gymnosperms) are the most threatened, while tropical forests are considered the highest risk areas.