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The missing piece to scale up and urgently deliver global action for fungi.
We are working with a group of dedicated experts – the Global Fungi Conservation Network (GFCN) – to complete the first ever Global Strategy for Fungal Conservation. This strategy will be filling the ‘missing piece’ in already ambitious plans set out around nature recovery, helping countries to meet the targets of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF).
Until now, there has been no dedicated strategy for fungi conservation. The plan is for the strategy to replicate the success of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC), which has successfully created a roadmap for saving the world’s plants.
Fungi are a frequently forgotten kingdom that underpins all life on Earth. Fungi play a vital role in our health, our economy, and the planet’s future. However, they are often ignored in policies, plans, and decision‑making. This lack of attention at local, national, and international levels has led to poor protection of fungi, even though urgent action is needed.
The Strategy, due to be published later this year, is notably the first of its kind for fungi. It will provide the actions needed for fungi and their habitats, which address the unique threats they face. And since we can’t protect and save what we don’t know, this work will highlight the knowledge gaps and research needs, to inspire institutions to fill them.
Beyond Governments, we also hope the strategy will motivate wider engagement from the “whole of society”. This includes a diverse range of people, communities and groups, including the private sector (businesses, corporations), NGOs, and importantly Indigenous Peoples who must have a voice in planning processes and action.
The big hope of the strategy is to inspire and motivate wide interest and engagement, from diverse groups, people and entities (beyond governments) – what is termed a “whole of society” approach.
Plantlife is serving as the Secretariat to the GSFC, working collaboratively with experts Dr Gregory Mueller, Cátia Canteiro and the GFCN by providing strategic oversight and operational support to its completion. We will also help by getting it out there to all the people and places it needs to be to influence and inspire action.
The GFCN is network of mycologists and others from a broad mix of universities, research institutions, botanic gardens and NGOs who share a common goal to have a coordinated, science-based framework which integrates fungi into nature recovery, sustainable agriculture, and climate adaptation efforts worldwide.
As the global voice of plants and fungi, we know that the development of a Global Fungal Conservation Strategy is vital to protecting and restoring our world.
We want to encourage and connect communities around the world to collaborate and learn from each other to conserve a fundamental part of our planet.
We will also make compelling arguments for public, private and civil society sectors to work effectively together to drive meaningful change on the ground.
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