Nearly a third of cactuses at risk of extinction

According to a new study performed by scientists from the worldwide Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), almost one-third of cactus species are under threat due to overexploitation and illegal trade of the plants.

31 per cent of species are at risk of becoming extinct, putting cacti among the most threatened groups of wildlife, more in danger than mammals and birds.

IUCN and a group of scientists published their findings in the journal Nature Plants.

“Goettsch also goes on to say, “[The researchers] confirm that the scale of the illegal wildlife trade, including trade in plants, is much greater than we had previously thought”.

Despite cacti being “amongst the more charismatic” types of plant, they have not received the same attention from conservationists as other plants such as those in tropical forests, a study has found.

Cacti are critical to the survival of many animal species, providing a source of food and water for a diversity of animals including deer, lizards, coyotes and tortoises. Moreover, hummingbirds, bats, bees and moths pollinate the cacti, while feeding on their nectar. European and Asian collectors were found to be the biggest contributors to the illegal trade.

“We must urgently step up worldwide efforts to tackle the illegal wildlife trade and strengthen the implementation of the CITES Convention on global Trade in Endangered Species, if we want to prevent the further decline of these species”.

But the paper said the main driver of cacti species extinction was the: “unscrupulous collection of live plants and seeds for horticultural trade and private ornamental collections, smallholder livestock ranching and smallholder annual agriculture”.

“The results of this assessment came as a shock to us”, said Barbara Goettsch, the study’s lead author. Certain cacti species are not allowed to be traded, or are heavily regulated – their forbidden status, low habitat numbers, and/or attractive blooms create a demand for them, however, hence the illegal trading.

Illegal trade should be more strictly punished, in order to discourage such practices, especially given the fact that more than a half of the world’s cacti are vital to humans for medicinal purposes and food.

A few 86 per cent of threatened cacti used in horticulture are taken from wild populations, which are particularly sought after due to their rarity.

Roots from species such as Ariocarpus kotschoubeyanus, listed as Near Threatened, are used as anti-inflammatories.

Some, just like the as soon as-ubiquitous Echinopsis pampana, have seen inhabitants drops of a minimum of 50% in Peru, on account of plunder for the decorative plant commerce.

These plants which have evolved to cope with the harsh conditions found in arid landscapes are native to North and South America, with exception of one species that is native in southern Africa and South Asia.

Cacti are renowned for their diverse forms and lovely flowers. Hotspots for threatened cactus species include arid areas of Brazil, Chile, Mexico and Uruguay. The extinction risk isn’t limited to one or two types of cacti, either – a wide variety of species could succumb to the pressure. The report calls for a broadening of arid land protection to deal with human activities such as construction, quarrying and aquaculture.