While world leaders convene at a UN summit to safeguard global flora and fauna, a consortium of scientists is advocating for the protection of another diverse realm of organisms often overlooked – fungi.
The total mass of fungi on Earth surpasses that of all animals combined, with an approximate 5 million species, ranging from edible mushrooms to minuscule organisms that play vital roles in ecosystems.
Chilean mycologist Giuliana Furci emphasizes the crucial role of fungi, stating, “Without fungi, the world as we know it wouldn’t exist.”
Despite their significance, fungi have historically been excluded from conservation efforts directed at plants and animals, a realization that prompted Furci to establish the Fungi Foundation in 2012, the first non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the world’s fungi.
Subsequently, other initiatives such as the Canada-based Mycosphaera have emerged, collectively forming the Global Fungal Conservation Network. At the COP17 UN biodiversity conference in Yerevan, Armenia, this coalition launched the Global Strategy for Fungal Conservation on Wednesday.
Jack-o’-lantern mushroom in Wolfville, N.S. (Submitted by Allison Walker)
The UN summit is monitoring advancements on the 2022 Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, an international pact aimed at conserving 30% of the world’s land and aquatic areas by 2030 and mobilizing substantial funding for biodiversity annually.
Even though the agreement emphasizes the need to balance human, animal, plant, and ecosystem welfare, fungi are notably absent.
Tetrapyrgos alba. (Carolina Magnasco/Fungi Foundation)
Furci argues that discussions on flora and fauna excluding fungi are outdated, as fungi were classified as a distinct kingdom in 1969 and are critical to the survival of numerous plant and animal species.
“Fungi are vital for environmental sustainability, and neglecting them presents an incomplete understanding of Earth’s life and ecosystems, hindering efforts to address various crises from climate change to biodiversity decline,” Furci emphasized before her participation in COP17.
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