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State of the world's plants 2016

The spread of pests and pathogens that damage plant life could cost global agriculture $540 billion a year, according to this report released by the Royal Botanic Gardens in London. An increase in international trade and travel had left flora facing rising threats from invasive pests and pathogens, and called for greater biosecurity measures.

This is the frst document to collate current knowledge on the state of the world’s plants. It represents a status report on our knowledge of global vegetation as it stands in 2016, including a synthesis of existing information about vascular plants.

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