The “Show Species” section provides a detailed list of tree species that match the criteria you selected in various filtering tabs, such as country, uses, and climate zones . This section helps shows you native tree species that are ecologically valuable for biodiversity, restoration, and conservation, while integrating climate and conservation information.
Filters and settings
This section already comes prepopulated based on the filters you selected earlier. You can review your options by returning to the relevant tabs. Below is a brief summary of the filters applied and how they impact the displayed species.
- Selected country: Displays species native to the country you selected earlier.
- Uses filter: Filters species based on specific uses, like timber, food, medicine.
- Climate filter: Narrows species based on climate preferences, such as arid, tropical, or temperate.
- Planting site: Further refines species selection using bioclimatic data, helping you align species with specific site conditions.
Additional filtering options
If you’d like to refine your species table even more, you can use the following optional filters:
- Plant family: Choose to display species from specific plant families (e.g., Euphorbiaceae).
- Plant genus: Filter by genus to focus on species within a particular plant group.
- Species display limit: Adjust how many species you see per page (e.g., 50 or 100 entries) to enhance your browsing experience.
Understanding the species table
The table displays key information about the matching species based on your selected filters. Below are the most important columns and their descriptions:
| Column Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Species | Lists matching tree species based on selected filters. |
| Family | Displays the species’ plant family (e.g., Euphorbiaceae, Apocynaceae). |
| Countries | Shows the number of countries where the species is considered native. |
| Switchboard ID | A unique identifier that links species to global plant databases. |
| Taxonomy Verification | Direct links to verify the species' scientific taxonomy. |
| CABI-ISC Link | Links to the CABI Invasive Species Compendium for species-related invasive data. |
| Plants of the World Online (POWO) | Provides detailed species information from POWO. |
| Seed Information Database (SID) | Offers seed viability and biodiversity data. |
| Climate Score | Rates the species' adaptability to different climate zones, supporting climate resilient restoration planning. |
Additional features and tips for effective use
Identifying endemic species:
You can sort species by the number of countries in which they are considered native.
Tip: Species listed as native in only one country may be classified as endemic to that country.
Color-coded threat status:
Species are highlighted based on their conservation status, following the IUCN Red List categories:Red (Threatened): Includes species listed as Critically Endangered, Endangered, or Vulnerable.
Orange: Near Threatened species.
Purple: Species classified as Extinct in the Wild.
Conservation & climate integration
For species that appear in GlobalTreeSearch but are not included in the extended list, hyperlinks provide access to information about conservation status, geographical distribution, and potential restoration actions via the GlobalTree Portal (BGCI, 2022).
If you’ve applied climate filters from the ‘Filter Climates’ or ‘Planting Site’ tabs, additional columns will appear to reflect:
Species observation records: Real-world data on where species have been observed.
Climate scoring: Environmental compatibility ratings based on the selected climate filters.
Downloading data and citation guidelines
You can download the full list of matching species by clicking the Download button. When using downloaded data in reports, projects, or academic research, please cite the appropriate references:
Suggested citations:
GlobalTreeSearch Data:
Beech, E., Rivers, M., Oldfield, S., & Smith, P. P. (2017). GlobalTreeSearch: The first complete global database of tree species and country distributions. Journal of Sustainable Forestry, 36(5): 454-489.GlobalUsefulNativeTrees (Species List, 2025):
Kindt, R., Graudal, L., Lillesø, J.-P., Pedercini, F., Smith, P., & Jamnadass, R. (2025). GlobalUsefulNativeTrees: Country-specific selections of native tree species for forest landscape restoration and biodiverse plantings. Available at: Global Useful Native Trees AppKöppen-Geiger Climate Data:
Beck, H. E., et al. (2023). High-resolution Köppen-Geiger maps for 1901–2099 based on CMIP6 projections. Scientific Data, 10, 724. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-023-02549-6
Additional references may apply if you are using advanced filtering options (e.g., Holdridge Life Zones or WCVP data).