--- title: "Scientists Rush to Save One of the World’s Rarest Trees as It Literally Falls Off a Cliff" description: "Scientists are trying to save a rare tree species by collecting seeds from the only surviving specimen that's clinging to a cliff." date: "2026-05-29" modified: "2026-05-29" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/science-energy/scientists-rush-save-trees-cliff" categories: - "Biology" - "Climate Change" - "Environment" - "Global Warming" - "Science & Energy" --- # Scientists Rush to Save One of the World’s Rarest Trees as It Literally Falls Off a Cliff ![Photograph of two experts collecting the seeds of the last known specimen D. neriifolia on Robinson Crusoe Island, Chile.]() *Gonzalo Rojas* Scientists are desperately racing to save one of the world's rarest tree species from disappearing — by collecting seeds from the only surviving specimen, which is literally clinging to the side of a cliff on Robinson Crusoe Island, an extremely remote island off the coast of Chile. A [photo]() shared by the Royal Botanic Gardens in the UK shows conservationists reaching out with a giant net in an attempt to recover seeds from the last known wild specimen of the *Dendroseris neriifolia* tree, native to Chile's Juan Fernández Islands. The action highlights how scientists are going to great lengths to ensure the survival of highly endangered species of plants, a prescient topic as global warming caused by human activity continues to put them at great risk. Scientists have [previously found]() that twice as many plants have gone extinct in the last 250 years as all birds, mammals, and amphibians combined, a devastating and often less-talked-about loss of biodiversity. The tree species has been heavily affected by habitat loss, encroaching invasive species, and failed attempts to ensure its survival, according to a [statement]() by the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew, near London, UK. Twenty-nine seeds were recovered, 25 of which were identified to be potentially viable according to an X-ray analysis by scientists at the Botanic Gardens. Seven seedlings are already establishing, so the last-ditch effort may have a chance of paying off. It's not the first time scientists have attempted to ensure the survival of the *Dendroseris neriifolia* tree. By 1980, only seven surviving wild specimens remained following dramatic population declines. Park rangers attempted to recover the species in the 1990s, and reintroduction efforts in the early 2000s ultimately proved unfruitful. At this point, there's not a lot of room for error. Beyond the tree falling off the cliff, just single specimen is currently growing at the VerdeNativo botanic gardens in Chile. "It is a race against time," said VerdeNativo botanic gardens scientist Diego Penneckamp in a statement. "This international collaboration to support the last remaining individual could prevent the extinction of a species that represents a unique lineage with its own natural history." **More on biodiversity:** [*Wildlife Populations Have Shrunk a Shocking Amount in Just 50 Years, Report Finds*]() ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()