During a UN summit focusing on the preservation of global biodiversity, a team of scientists is advocating for the safeguarding of fungi, a diverse group of species often overlooked.
The total weight of fungi on Earth surpasses that of all animals combined and encompasses an estimated 5 million species, ranging from edible mushrooms to tiny organisms vital for ecosystem functions.
Chilean mycologist Giuliana Furci emphasized the crucial role of fungi in maintaining the world’s ecosystems, underscoring the necessity of their protection.
Historically, fungi have been neglected in conservation efforts aimed at plants and animals, a realization that prompted Furci to establish the Fungi Foundation in 2012, the first nonprofit organization dedicated to fungal conservation.
At the ongoing COP17 UN biodiversity conference in Yerevan, Armenia, the Global Fungal Conservation Network, comprising initiatives like Mycosphaera from Canada, unveiled the Global Strategy for Fungal Conservation.
Jack-o’-lantern mushroom in Wolfville, N.S. (Submitted by Allison Walker)
The UN’s assessment of the 2022 Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which aims to safeguard 30% of the world’s land and marine areas by 2030, stresses the importance of balancing the well-being of humans, animals, and plants but overlooks fungi.
Tetrapyrgos alba. (Carolina Magnasco/Fungi Foundation)
Recognizing fungi as a distinct kingdom since 1969, Furci highlighted their vital role in supporting plant and animal life, emphasizing the need to include them in conservation efforts to address environmental challenges like climate change and biodiversity loss.
The lack of formal names for many fungi poses a challenge in their conservation, with only a small percentage formally identified, leading to a growing list of threatened species.
Cortinarius magellanicus, found in South America and New Zealand. (Giuliana Furci/Fungi Foundation)
Many are nameless, uncounted
Uncovering the threats faced by fungi is imperative, as evidenced by recent additions to the IUCN Red List, which highlighted over 1,300 fungal species, with hundreds at risk of extinction.
Despite sharing similar threats with other organisms such as habitat loss and climate change, fungi have been overlooked in conservation efforts, prompting the need for tailored actions to ensure their survival.