This is the 14873rd most frequent Russian word.
погибают
"Погибают" means "perish" or "die."
The word "погибают" is used here to describe the dying process of living plants due to lack of sunlight.
Растения погибают без солнечного света.
Plants perish without sunlight.
"Погибают" refers to the tragic loss of life occurring in battlefield conditions.
Многие жертвы войн погибают на полях сражений.
Many victims of wars perish on the battlefields.
This usage of "погибают" signifies the adverse effects on forest creatures caused by environmental changes such as deforestation.