From soaring coastal redwoods to dinosaur-era Wollemi pines and firs that make the perfect Christmas trees, even our most revered woody plants are in an awful lot of trouble.

But it turns out that losing some species won’t just endanger local forests; it will threaten entire ecosystems, says a new study.

Last year, a global assessment titled State of the World’s Trees found a shocking one-third of all tree species are currently teetering on the edge of existence.

This amounts to about 17,500 unique tree species that are endangered.

That’s more than double the number of all threatened tetrapods (mammals, birds, amphibians, and reptiles).

Some trees are so rare that only a single known individual remains, like the lonesome palm in Mauritius, Hyophorbe amaricaulis.

In a new paper, the same team of researchers behind the State of the World’s Trees reports issues a “warning to humanity” about the consequences of these losses, backed by 45 other scientists from 20 different countries.

Conservation biologist Malin Rivers from Botanic Gardens Conservation International and colleagues outline the many impacts these losses will have on our economies, livelihoods, and food.

Most of our fruit comes from trees, as do many nuts and medicines, with non-timber products amounting to about US$88 billion worth of trade.

In the developing world, 880 million people rely on firewood for fuel, and 1.6 billion people live within 5 kilometers (3 miles) of a forest, relying on them for food and income.

All up, trees contribute about US$1.3 trillion annually to the global economy, yet…

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Yeah, my professional covid test came back negative. Boo-hiss, so I just have a lousy cold on top of bad allergies. I thank you all for your support, patience, and understanding while I have been depressed because of Sonny’s crossing the veil. I thank you also for you still following WOTC’s website even though I have not posted anything for a short while.

I am planning on catching up all the missed birthday posts on Thursday. Than on Friday do a full daily posting for all the regular posts for both hemispheres. Saturday I plan on getting back to do tomorrow posts for both hemispheres.

May you life be blessed with only positive things.

You know the old saying when life gives you lemons make lemon ade? Well I definitely have enough lemons right now to make big vats of it.

Someone came to Sonny’s wake with active covid. I, one of his stepdaughter, one of his daughters and her children plus an Aunt who’s in her 70s or 80s have all tested positive. Who knows how many more people will.

I’m hoping the person who brought it is only a carrier with no symptoms. If it was someone who knew they were positive and came anyway…no words to describe how I’m feeling about that person right now.

Besides the fibromyalgia and arthritis I deal with clinical depression, anexity/panic disorder and PTSD from my dad’s death. I know some of you reading deal with the same or similar mental/emotional disorders so I decided to let you know and for me to know we do not have to go through problems physical, mental, and emotional alone.

There are times I need someone to talk to that is not blood family or my psychologist. As I think some of you may feel the same way. I want you to know I am here to listen either through an email, sent to ladybeltane@aol.com Subect – please listen, or through a call via Skype (it can be just a voice call or if you prefer a video call). As an ordained minister I am bond by ethics and my own morality to keep everything between just the person I’m talking to and myself.

Today my anexity is really bad not only because of Sonny’s crossing but also my dad’s in 1970 and my mom’s in 2015. I have endless loops going through my mind of how my dad and died plus their and Sonny’s funerals. I am going to be drinking a lot of valerian/ peppermint tea today to help me get out of my funk.

Why am I posting about mental and emotional health today? Why am I disclosing my disorders? I hope by doing so that I reach at least one person to know they are not alone with their disorders. I feel by my sharing what I am going through daily when I just cannot bring myself to get going to get on the computer and work because I just do not have the energy it takes to do them. I am going to take off from doing regular posts to do some very much needed self-care and mental flossing. I will let you all know how I am feeling each day. When I am ready to do posts knowing they do not have my negative energy in them I will be back.

Thank you for your understanding and support while I am going through this difficult time in my life.

Until we meet again my allergies positive things come into your life..