10 of The World’s Most Endangered Trees

When you think of something being endangered, your mind likely jumps straight to animals—tigers, elephants, pandas. That’s understandable. After all, these creatures tug at our heartstrings, and their photos grace posters and conservation campaigns around the globe. But what many people don’t realize is that trees are also under serious threat. In fact, over 17,000 species of plants, including many trees, are classified as endangered—and their disappearance could have ripple effects throughout entire ecosystems.

Now, with Arbor Day having just passed, it’s the perfect moment to turn our attention to the silent giants of the natural world. Trees provide oxygen, store carbon, stabilize soil, and serve as homes for countless species. They are also often deeply intertwined with human culture, livelihoods, and medicine. But around the globe, many of these magnificent trees are on the brink of extinction. Deforestation, illegal logging, climate change, and over-harvesting of valuable wood are pushing some of the world’s most iconic and rare trees closer to vanishing forever.

In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the Top 10 Most Endangered Trees in the World, exploring what makes them special, what threatens their existence, and why saving them matters.

1. Pennantia baylisiana (Three Kings Kaikomako) – New Zealand

Status: Critically Endangered
Location: Three Kings Islands, New Zealand

This tree holds a sad record—it was once considered the rarest tree in the world. Discovered on the remote Three Kings Islands, north of New Zealand, the species was represented by a single living tree in the wild. Intense conservation efforts are now propagating it in botanical gardens, but it remains a powerful symbol of how close we can come to losing a species entirely.

2. Wollemi Pine (Wollemia nobilis) – Australia

Status: Critically Endangered
Location: Wollemi National Park, Australia

The Wollemi Pine is often called a “living fossil.” Once thought to be extinct for over 2 million years, it was rediscovered in 1994 in a secluded canyon near Sydney. There are only a few dozen mature trees in the wild. With bushfires and fungal diseases threatening its habitat, this ancient conifer needs constant protection.

3. Baishan Fir (Abies beshanzuensis) – China

Status: Critically Endangered
Location: Baishanzu Mountain, Zhejiang Province, China

Found only on Baishanzu Mountain in eastern China, the Baishan Fir is one of the most endangered conifers. There are believed to be fewer than 20 individuals left in the wild. Logging and habitat degradation have decimated its population. Despite conservation attempts, regeneration has been difficult due to low seed viability.

4. Bois Dentelle (Elaeocarpus bojeri) – Mauritius

Status: Critically Endangered
Location: Mauritius

The name “Bois Dentelle” means “lacewood” in French—a fitting name for this delicate flowering tree. Only two individuals remain in the wild, located on a small plot of land near a tea plantation in Mauritius. Their survival is threatened by invasive species and habitat loss. Despite replanting efforts, this tree’s future remains uncertain.

5. Hawaiian Sandalwood (Santalum freycinetianum) – Hawaii, USA

Status: Critically Endangered
Location: Hawaii

Once highly prized for its aromatic wood, Hawaiian sandalwood was harvested nearly to extinction in the 19th century to satisfy demand from China. Today, several species of Hawaiian sandalwood are struggling to recover. Illegal logging, grazing by invasive animals, and slow growth rates make restoration efforts challenging.

6. Monkey Puzzle Tree (Araucaria araucana) – Chile and Argentina

Status: Endangered
Location: Andes Mountains, South America

The Monkey Puzzle Tree has a unique appearance and a long history—it dates back to the age of the dinosaurs. Indigenous to the temperate rainforests of Chile and Argentina, it is the national tree of Chile. Unfortunately, its slow growth, combined with logging and land conversion for agriculture, has left it vulnerable.

7. Dragon Tree (Dracaena cinnabari) – Socotra, Yemen

Status: Vulnerable to Endangered
Location: Socotra Island, Yemen

This alien-looking tree, with its umbrella-like canopy, produces a red resin known as “dragon’s blood,” once used in medicine and dyes. Found only on Socotra Island, the dragon tree is threatened by climate change, overgrazing by goats, and soil erosion. Without urgent conservation, this iconic tree could disappear from the landscape entirely.

8. Saint Helena Gumwood (Commidendrum robustum) – Saint Helena

Status: Critically Endangered
Location: Saint Helena Island, South Atlantic Ocean

This species is endemic to the remote island of Saint Helena. The gumwood used to cover much of the island, but habitat destruction and the introduction of invasive species brought it to the brink. Thanks to conservation work, it has made a small comeback, but the population remains tiny and fragile.

9. African Blackwood (Dalbergia melanoxylon) – Sub-Saharan Africa

Status: Near Threatened to Endangered
Location: East and Central Africa

Known as “the tree that sings” because of its use in making high-quality musical instruments like clarinets and oboes, African Blackwood is one of the most valuable woods in the world. Unfortunately, its popularity has led to severe overharvesting. With few sustainable harvesting practices in place, the tree’s survival is at risk.

10. Florida Torreya (Torreya taxifolia) – Florida, USA

Status: Critically Endangered
Location: Florida Panhandle, USA

This rare conifer is one of North America’s most endangered trees. Once found along the Apalachicola River, it has been devastated by disease (most likely fungal in origin), habitat loss, and climate change. Fewer than 1,000 individuals remain, and most are in poor health. Conservationists are now experimenting with moving the tree north to cooler climates in a controversial technique called assisted migration.