Gibbs, Douglas

Rhododendrons are stunning horticultural plants widely cultivated in temperate regions. In the wild they are mainly associated with centres of diversity in the Himalayas and in South East Asia, where they form important components of montane ecosystems. In total over 1000 species are recognised and the genus is subject to ongoing taxonomic debate.

Maples are keystone species in northern temperate forests and are much valued as a source of revenue for products such as maple syrup and timber. As with many other tree species, maples are under threat in the wild primarily as a result of forest degradation and destruction, as well as of climate change. This report presents a review of the conservation status in the wild of maples worldwide.