The dragon’s blood tree, found only on Yemen’s remote Socotra island, is facing mounting threats as climate change intensifies. "It feels like losing one of your children," said Sena Keybani, whose family operates a nursery devoted to saving the species.
Recognizable by its distinctive umbrella-like canopy and vivid red sap, the tree was once widespread across the island. But a combination of worsening cyclones, overgrazing by invasive goats, and ongoing conflict in Yemen—one of the poorest countries in the world, gripped by a civil war for more than a decade—has brought the species and its fragile ecosystem to the brink of collapse.
And the dragon’s blood tree is just one example. Across the globe, remarkable trees are facing similar struggles. Yet many continue to stand strong, with rich histories and surprising stories that stretch back centuries.
In this gallery we tell these fascinating stories, so click through and be amazed.