AI and digital tech used to chart climate impact and extinction risk for plants

A global study leveraging artificial intelligence has revealed how climate change is altering flowering times for plants across the world. Researchers analyzed 8 million digitized plant specimens dating back over a century, finding that flowering periods have shifted by an average of 2.5 days earlier or later per decade. This disruption threatens the delicate relationships between plants and their pollinators, according to experts at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. The findings are part of Kew’s latest ‘state of the world’s plants and fungi’ report, marking its 10th anniversary and involving 400 scientists from 40 countries. The report warns that extinction risks for plants and fungi remain significantly underestimated, with less than 20% of plants and just 0.6% of fungi formally assessed. An estimated 100,000 plant species and 2 million fungi species remain undiscovered, with 4,600 new plant species and 7,800 new fungi described in 2024 and 2025 alone. Kew’s four-year project to digitize its herbarium and fungarium—comprising 7.4 million specimens—has transformed how researchers access historical data. Funded by the UK’s Environment Department, the project used high-resolution photography to create digital records of pressed leaves, flowers, and fungi, now freely available online. These records, part of a global network of 145 million specimens, include rare collections like those gathered by Charles Darwin and First World War service personnel. The digitized data, combined with AI, enables scientists to track climate impacts, discover new species, and identify potential extinctions. For example, researchers in Costa Rica increased the country’s known fungal diversity by 20% using digital collections. Kew’s executive director of science, Alexandre Antonelli, emphasized that AI and digitization democratize access to scientific knowledge, allowing global collaboration in conservation efforts. The report underscores the urgent need for coordinated international action to harness technology for biodiversity protection. While extinction threats persist, AI-driven insights offer hope by accelerating research and improving data accessibility for scientists worldwide.