At a UN summit focused on safeguarding global biodiversity, scientists are advocating for the protection of fungi, a diverse and often overlooked kingdom of species. Fungi on Earth outweigh all animals combined, with an estimated 5 million species ranging from edible mushrooms to microscopic organisms crucial for ecosystems. Recognized as a separate kingdom in 1969, fungi play essential roles in sustaining plant and animal life. However, they have historically been excluded from conservation efforts.
Leading the charge in fungi conservation is Chilean mycologist Giuliana Furci, who founded the Fungi Foundation in 2012. Joining her cause are other organizations like Mycosphaera from Canada, forming the Global Fungal Conservation Network. This coalition recently launched the Global Strategy for Fungal Conservation at the COP17 UN biodiversity conference in Armenia.
Despite fungi’s critical ecological importance, the 2022 Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, a global pact to protect 30% of the world’s land and waters by 2030, does not mention fungi explicitly. Furci emphasizes that understanding and protecting fungi are essential for addressing climate change and biodiversity loss.
Recent assessments have highlighted the threats facing fungi, with over 1,300 species added to the IUCN Red List, with many facing extinction risks. Challenges in conserving fungi include their microscopic nature, underground habitat, and the complex relationships they have with other organisms. Efforts are underway to enhance conservation initiatives for fungi, with a fungal conservation pledge proposed at the UN biodiversity conference.
Recognizing the critical roles fungi play in ecosystems and human life, conservationists are advocating for greater recognition and inclusion of fungi in biodiversity monitoring and conservation planning. Furci urges the public to acknowledge the importance of fungi in everyday life, emphasizing the need to discuss fungi alongside plants and animals to promote conservation awareness.