Amazing mosses, fantastic fungi and incredible lichens: project launched November 2007 to boost their conservation in Scotland

A new project led by Plantlife Scotland will celebrate the amazing world of mosses, liverworts, lichens and fungi and the extraordinary richness that exists in Scotland. With almost 1000 species of moss and liverwort recorded, which is more than 87% of Europe’s total and could be as much as 5% of the world’s total, Scotland has something to shout about!

Pink waxcap fungi, one of the spectacular species to be celebrated by the new project run by Plantlife Scotland. ©Ray Woods/Plantlife

These plants add colour and interest to our woodlands, mountain tops, mires and even our cities, but they don’t have the celebrity status of orchids or other flowering plants. In a bid to help their conservation and raise awareness of their importance, the newly launched Lower Plants and Fungi project will be providing advice on managing key habitats for rare and threatened species and organising events for people to learn more about them.

The project will also seek to inspire student biologists and conservationists to find out more about these groups of plants. Lack of expertise is an increasing problem for management and conservation of plants and fungi and more people need to be trained up to identify, monitor and manage these species.

The project is the result of recommendations in a strategy report published last year by Plant Link Scotland, the forum for organisations involved in plant conservation. The strategy identifies what needs to be done to ensure the effective conservation of these important lower plants and fungi.

The conservationist who will be giving all these plants a boost is Matilda Scharsach, as she has just taken on the role of Plantlife’s Lower Plant and Fungi Officer, based in Stirling. She will be getting out and about running events, producing information leaflets, and encouraging the exchange of information about lower plants and fungi and their conservation.

‘I am very much looking forward to getting my teeth into this exciting post, to raise awareness of the wonders of lower plants and fungi in the Scottish landscape,’ said Matilda. ‘Their significance in terms of UK biodiversity, as well as their strange beauty, is often overlooked. I will be working with the public to help provide a window into the fascinating world and ecological significance of these species using accessible information and fun interaction. I will also work with land managers to help increase understanding of how to enhance key habitats to benefit important lower plants and fungi, for example by setting up training events about specific rare species and their habitat management needs.’

‘If anyone would like to find out more about the Lower Plants and Fungi project, come along to some of the Plantlife events and activities in 2008, or receive the Plantlife Scotland newsletter, please do contact me on 01786 469778’, added Matilda.