The number of fungi species on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species has surpassed 1,000.
They are the second biggest kingdom after animals, with an estimated 2.5 million species, of which around 155,000 are named.
In addition, they underpin all ecosystems; most plants partner with fungi to take in nutrients, and therefore cannot exist without them, and they make decomposition possible.
The IUCN Red List now includes 169,420 species, of which 47,187 are threatened with extinction. The addition of 482 newly assessed fungi species brings their number on the IUCN Red List to 1,300, of which at least 411 are at risk of extinction.
Dr Grethel Aguilar, IUCN Director General, said “Fungi are the unsung heroes of life on earth, forming the very foundation of healthy ecosystems – yet they have long been overlooked. Thanks to the dedication of experts and citizen scientists, we have taken a vital step forward: over 1,000 of the world’s 155,000 known fungal species have now been assessed for the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, the most comprehensive source of information on extinction risk. Now, it’s time to turn this knowledge into action and safeguard the extraordinary fungal kingdom, whose vast underground networks sustain nature and life as we know it.”
Rapid growth of agricultural and urban areas has replaced fungi habitats, putting 279 species at risk of extinction.
Nitrogen and ammonia run-off from fertilizers and engine pollution also threaten 91 species. These are serious threats in Europe, impacting species that are well-known in traditional countryside such as the Vulnerable fibrous waxcap (Hygrocybe intermedia).
At least 198 species of fungi are at risk of extinction due to deforestation for timber production, illegal logging, and clearing for agriculture.
Climate change is impacting fungi.
Over 50 fungi species are at risk of extinction due to changes in fire patterns in the USA, which have drastically changed forests. Firs have grown to dominate the high Sierra Nevada mountain woods since 1980, reducing habitat for Endangered Gastroboletus citrinobrunneus.
Professor Anders Dahlberg, Red List Authority Coordinator of the IUCN SSC Mushroom, Bracket and Puffball Specialist Group, said “While fungi mainly live hidden underground and inside wood, their loss impacts the life above-ground that depends on them. It is important that more old-growth forests are protected. Forestry practices should consider fungi, for example leaving dead wood and scattered trees, and proactive forest management can help manage fire intensity.”
Picture: Michael Krikorev