Underground Explorers Program Funds Global Research in Underexplored Ecoregions

Mycorrhizal fungi, the tiny network-forming fungi that form symbiotic relationships with plant roots, have underpinned lifeon Earth for over 450 million years. Scientists know that mycorrhizal fungi are critical to maintain ecosystem health, and that they transport massive amounts of carbon fixed by plants – making them an untapped resource in our fight against climate change.

However, fewer than 10% of mycorrhizal fungi species have been identified with data coming from only .01 percent of theEarth’s surface. As a result, these underground ecosystem engineers have historically been left out of conservation agendas.

In response to the wealth of local knowledge on soils and fungi in important zones of undocumented fungal biodiversity, The Society for the Protection of Underground Networks (SPUN) has teamed up with the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation to develop the Underground Explorers Program, supporting local scientists to document mycorrhizal fungi in the world’s underexplored regions.

SPUN initiated the pilot program ofUnderground Explorers in late 2022 and

on June 30, 2023, will add a new cohort ofExplorers, representing an additional seven countries. SPUN and collaborators hope to combine fungal data from across the world with high-resolution maps projecting threats to underground ecosystems so fungi facing the most urgent threats can be identified and conserved.

Profiles of all Underground Explorers are available on our web page.The following Underground Explorers are available for interviews:

Jessica Duchicela – Ecuador – Dr. Duchicela is tracing 19^th century German explorer Alexander vonHumboldt’s route through Ecuador. “While his scientific contributions were remarkable, it is important for Ecuadorian research teams to critically engage with his legacy, acknowledging the power dynamics and biases inherent in colonial scientific endeavors, while leveraging his methodology and findings to advance our own indigenous knowledge systems.”

Joyce Jefwa – Kenya –  “The area is in the coastal region in Kenya where cultural and spiritual beliefs have for a long time preserved the forests. Rapid development in the nearby tourist resort towns has led to an increase in population in the region has led to demand for forest resources and clearing of land for settlement and degradation of the landscape and the forest.”

Valérie Tchung – French Polynesia –  “The island is particularly threatened by invasive plant species. Mo'orea is also a of significant ecological and cultural importance. The knowledge of the inventory of fungal microbial communities would be very useful to understand the functioning of these forest ecosystems and enrich the documentation on this region of the world.”

Nahuel Policelli – Patagonia – “The question is whether non-native plants are borrowing native mycorrhizal fungi asa mechanism to facilitate their invasion. Web need to understand how changes in soil fungi from invasions may affect native plants.”

Nourou Yorou – Ivory Coast –  “The increasing demand forc acao by numerous chocolate-producing companies has resulted in the unrestrained deforestation and destruction of natural capital in countries such as Ghana and Ivory Coast, which produce 60% of the world’s cacao We would like to understand how cacao production affects below-ground native biodiversity.”

SPUN (Society for the Protection of UndergroundNetworks) is a research organization founded to map and protect the mycorrhizal networks that regulate the Earth’s climate and ecosystems. In collaboration with researchers and local communities, SPUN is leading efforts to explore mycorrhizal biodiversity and advocating for the inclusion of fungi in conservation and climate agendas. SPUN is supported by the Grantham Foundation, the Schmidt Family Foundation, and the Paul G. Allen Foundation. Visit https://spun.earth/

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