Conservationists Launch Global Fungi Protection Strategy Ahead of COP17 Summit

A global team of conservationists from 30 countries has set out to integrate fungal conservation into negotiations at the COP17 summit, Mongabay reported. Experts are working to bring mushrooms, yeasts, and around 160,000 known species of fungi into mainstream environmental policy. [1]

According to Mongabay, Greg Mueller, the chief scientist emeritus at the Chicago Botanic Garden in the United States, emphasized that fungi serve vital roles as ecosystem engineers. Mueller stated that fungi are responsible for life on Earth and that life as we know it would not exist without them. [1]

Fungi face numerous threats globally, including forest destruction, habitat fragmentation, land use changes, pollution, climate change, and over-exploitation of commercial species. The population status of fungi was first officially recorded in 2018 by the Royal Botanic Gardens, using research from 210 contributors across 42 countries. [2]

The coalition aims to elevate fungi from traditionally neglected status to legally protected status in international agreements. Incorporating fungal protection into the COP17 agenda marks a significant step toward securing recognition for their foundational role in global ecosystems. [1][2]