SPUN urges the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) to sign global pledge to prioritize the conservation of fungi
In a groundbreaking statement, The Republic of Chile and The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, alongside other countries, are calling on the world’s environmental decision-makers to put fungi on the center stage as they announce the launch of an official Fungal Conservation Pledge. As representatives gather in October at the Convention on Biological Diversity in Cali, Colombia, we stand at a critical juncture in the preservation of our planet's biodiversity. The time to stand for fungi is now.
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Until recently, fungi have been largely excluded from official policies about the environment, climate, and conservation. The tireless work of our partners at Fungi Foundation has finally brought fungi to the forefront of conversations about how to protect our planet.
The inclusion of both macroscopic and microscopic fungi in the Fungal Conservation Pledge is a massive step forward in protecting hidden networks of mycorrhizal fungi. These networks are hidden below Earth’s surface, but they form essential partnerships with the roots of most plants. Mycorrhizal networks create physical scaffolds that hold soil together and facilitate nutrient exchange and carbon flows belowground. Mycorrhizal fungi increase the resilience of ecosystems to global change, and help regulate the climate by drawing down over 13 billion tons of CO2 into soils every year. Yet, habitat destruction, pollution, and climate shifts threaten these organisms. The inclusion of microscopic fungi marks a new era for the future mapping and protection of belowground biodiversity across the planet.
The Society for the Protection of Underground Networks (SPUN) urges all countries to sign the global pledge to protect fungi.
By signing this pledge, we can collectively take a significant step toward safeguarding our ecosystems, above and belowground. The health of our planet hinges on the often-invisible networks formed by mycorrhizal fungi. Together, we can ensure a thriving future for all species on Earth.
For more information, read the article in The Guardian.
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