– Fungi Face Extinction Due to Habitat Loss
– IUCN Red List Highlights Fungal Biodiversity Crisis
– Deforestation and Pollution Threaten Fungal Species
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) reports that over 1,000 fungi species are now listed on its Red List of Threatened Species, with at least 411 at risk of extinction. Key threats include deforestation, agricultural expansion, urban development, and pollution from nitrogen and ammonia. Notably, species like the fibrous waxcap and giant knight are vulnerable due to habitat destruction in Europe, while climate change-induced fire patterns in the U.S. threaten others like Gastroboletus citrinobrunneus.
Fungi play a crucial role in ecosystems, supporting plant health, decomposing organic matter, and storing carbon. Their decline jeopardizes these functions, impacting biodiversity and climate resilience. Experts urge increased conservation efforts, including protecting old-growth forests and integrating fungi into biodiversity policies, to safeguard these essential organisms.
