The University of Southampton is leading a research project to find a mate for the only known tree of the species Encephalartos woodii. This tree, described as the loneliest in the world, belongs to a group of plants that are extinct in the wild according to the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). All current members of E. woodii are male clones, unable to reproduce naturally.
Dr. Laura Cinti, a researcher at the University of Southampton, is leading the project to locate a female E. woodii tree using drones and artificial intelligence (AI). The aim is to restore this almost extinct plant species through natural reproduction. The research team is using AI to analyze images of the forest in search of a female tree, with only 2% of the total forest area assessed so far.
If the search for female trees in the forest is unsuccessful, the team is considering options such as chemical or physiological manipulation to change the sex of E. woodii, allowing it to reproduce naturally. Dr. Cinti is hopeful that they may be able to change the sex of the tree, drawing on examples of other species that have experienced sex changes due to environmental factors.
Overall, this innovative project combines technology, conservation and scientific research to preserve and potentially restore the endangered Encephalartos woodii species