Scientists Are Racing to Save One of the World’s Rarest Trees Before It Disappears Forever

The Last Known Wild

Dendroseris neriifolia Tree Stands Alone on a Remote Chilean Island

In a remarkable conservation effort, scientists have taken a crucial step toward saving one of the rarest trees on Earth from extinction.

The species, known as Dendroseris neriifolia, now survives as a single known wild tree growing on a remote cliffside on Robinson Crusoe Island in the South Pacific Ocean.

With only one individual remaining in the wild, conservationists faced a frightening reality: if that tree died, the species could vanish forever.

Fortunately, a recent seed-collection mission has given scientists renewed hope that the tree’s story is not yet over.

A Species on the Brink of Extinction

Dendroseris neriifolia is native to the isolated Juan Fernández Islands, a volcanic island chain located hundreds of kilometers off the coast of Chile.

Like many species found on remote islands, it evolved in isolation over thousands of years.

This unique evolutionary history made the tree highly specialized—but also highly vulnerable.

Over time, a combination of environmental pressures pushed the species toward extinction.

Scientists point to several major threats:

• Habitat destruction
• Invasive plant species
• Soil erosion
• Grazing by introduced animals
• Wildfires
• Historical forest clearing

These pressures gradually reduced the tree’s population until only one wild specimen remained.

Today, that solitary tree represents the entire species’ remaining natural existence.

The Race to Collect Its Seeds

Recognizing the urgency of the situation, researchers launched a mission to collect seeds from the last surviving wild tree.

The operation was anything but simple.

The tree grows on a steep and unstable cliff face, making access extremely difficult.

In fact, conservationists have installed support ropes around the tree itself to prevent it from collapsing or being damaged by erosion.

Park rangers and researchers must undertake a demanding journey across rugged terrain before climbing to the precarious location where the tree stands.

Only then can they carefully harvest mature seeds.

Every seed collected represents a potential future tree—and possibly the survival of the species itself.

A Journey to One of the World’s Most Important Seed Vaults

After collection, the seeds were sent thousands of miles away to the renowned Millennium Seed Bank, operated by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew in England.

The Millennium Seed Bank is the world’s largest wild plant seed conservation program.

Its mission is simple but critically important:

Preserve plant species before they disappear.

By storing seeds under carefully controlled conditions, scientists can maintain living genetic material for decades or even centuries.

This provides a safeguard against extinction and creates opportunities for future restoration efforts.

For Dendroseris neriifolia, the seed bank may prove to be the difference between survival and permanent loss.

Encouraging Signs of Hope

The good news is that the collected seeds appear promising.

Researchers tested the seeds and found that a large proportion may be viable.

Even more encouraging, several seeds have already germinated successfully.

Young seedlings are currently growing under controlled conditions at Kew’s Wakehurst conservation facilities.

For a species represented by only one wild tree, every healthy seedling is a significant achievement.

These young plants could eventually mature and produce their own seeds, dramatically increasing the number of individuals available for conservation efforts.

What was once a species balanced on the edge of extinction may now have a path toward recovery.

Why Seed Banking Matters

Conservation experts often describe seed banks as an insurance policy for biodiversity.

When a species exists in only one location—or in the case of Dendroseris neriifolia, as a single individual—any unexpected disaster can cause extinction.

Potential threats include:

• Storm damage
• Disease outbreaks
• Landslides
• Fire
• Drought
• Human disturbance

If the last wild tree were lost tomorrow, preserved seeds could ensure that the species survives.

By spreading genetic material across multiple locations, conservationists reduce the risk of total extinction.

This strategy has become increasingly important as climate change, habitat loss, and invasive species threaten plants around the world.

The Challenge of Restoring a Species

Saving seeds is only the first step.

The larger challenge lies in restoring a self-sustaining population.

Scientists must now answer several important questions:

What Conditions Does the Tree Need to Grow?

Researchers are studying the seeds and seedlings to understand the species’ germination requirements.

Factors such as:

• Temperature
• Moisture
• Soil composition
• Sunlight exposure

may all influence successful growth.

Can New Populations Be Established?

If enough healthy plants are produced, conservationists hope to reintroduce them into suitable habitats on the Juan Fernández Islands.

This process requires careful planning to ensure young trees survive in the wild.

How Can Threats Be Reduced?

Protecting future populations means addressing the factors that caused the species’ decline in the first place.

Habitat restoration, invasive species control, and ecosystem management will all play important roles.

Why Island Species Are Especially Vulnerable

The story of Dendroseris neriifolia reflects a broader conservation challenge faced by island ecosystems worldwide.

Islands often contain unique species found nowhere else on Earth.

Because these species evolved in isolation, they frequently lack defenses against introduced predators, invasive plants, or environmental changes.

As a result, island species account for a disproportionate share of global extinctions.

The Juan Fernández Islands are particularly famous for their unique biodiversity.

Many plants and animals there exist nowhere else in the world.

Protecting these species is essential not only for Chile but for global biodiversity.

The Importance of Plant Conservation

When people think about endangered species, they often picture pandas, tigers, elephants, or whales.

Yet plants are equally important.

Plants:

• Produce oxygen
• Support ecosystems
• Prevent soil erosion
• Store carbon
• Provide food and medicine
• Sustain wildlife populations

Without healthy plant communities, entire ecosystems can collapse.

Conservationists warn that plant extinctions often receive less public attention despite their enormous ecological importance.

Saving species like Dendroseris neriifolia helps preserve the foundations upon which many other forms of life depend.

A Rare Success Story in Progress

Conservation biology is often filled with difficult news.

Many species continue to decline despite significant efforts to protect them.

That is why stories like this matter.

Scientists were able to collect seeds from the final wild tree before it was too late.

The seeds appear viable.

Seedlings are already growing.

And for the first time in years, there is a realistic possibility that the species may recover.

While the future remains uncertain, the outlook is considerably brighter than it was before the seed collection effort began.

Looking Ahead

The fate of Dendroseris neriifolia now depends on the success of ongoing conservation work.

Researchers hope that the seedlings currently growing in cultivation will mature, produce new generations of seeds, and eventually help establish healthy wild populations once again.

If successful, the project could transform one of the world’s rarest trees from a species represented by a single individual into one with a secure future.

For now, a lone tree clinging to a cliff on Robinson Crusoe Island continues to stand as a symbol of both vulnerability and hope.

Its survival reminds us how fragile biodiversity can be—and how much can still be achieved when scientists act before it is too late.