Wright's gardenia, one of the rarest trees globally, has seen a population surge on Aride Island, Seychelles, where a recent count identified 2,913 trees, up from 1,900 in 2017. These figures reflect the dedicated work of the Island Conservation Society of Seychelles, who spent 272 hours surveying the challenging terrain. The tree, critically endangered and previously extinct from all but Aride, is benefitting from invasive ferns being removed and a wetter climate. Despite the good news, experts remain cautious due to its ongoing risk of extinction.
The Wright's gardenia, once widespread across Seychelles, faced extinction due to deforestation. Now thriving solely on Aride Island, its population has increased dramatically.
Conservationists dedicated 272 hours to survey Aride Island, uncovering 2,913 Wright's gardenia trees, significantly more than previous counts, suggesting successful conservation efforts.
Conservation manager Emma Cotton noted that the removal of invasive ferns and recent wetter climate conditions may have contributed to the resurgence of the trees.
Ranger Steve Esther expressed hope, acknowledging the tree’s thriving population on Aride while also recognizing its ongoing vulnerability with high extinction risks.
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