Madagascar palm trees at risk of extinction, study finds

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-19985536


Madagascar's rain forests have shrunk to less than a quarter of their original size, the IUCN said

A majority of Madagascar's palms face extinction due to land clearing, an environment protection group says.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) said 83% of the 192 tree varieties had been added to its threatened species list.

The group called the figures "terrifying", saying the tree loss also endangered animals and put people's livelihoods at risk.

The findings bring the global number of species at risk of dying out to 20,219.