Protecting fungi means protecting our resiliency.
FUNDIS is a leading NGO in community science, now also a key player in fungal documentation through the CA FUNDIS project, funded by the State of California and the California Institute for Biodiversity. This project initiates a statewide, multi-year effort to document California's fungal biodiversity, giving fungi the attention plants and animals have received since the early 1900s. We honor past and present mycologists and conservationists, though at the current pace, it could take 2,000 years to describe all fungal species. The CA FUNDIS project is essential in creating a comprehensive library of every fungal species in the state.
Conservation follows cycles of assessment, planning, and action: evaluating fungi, gathering communities to set goals, taking action, and adjusting as needed. This process has been applied to plants and animals in every state, but for fungi, California is just beginning its first focused, multi-year effort.
Fungi play pivotal roles in maintaining ecological balance. By bringing fungi to the conservation table, we’re taking an active approach to protecting biodiversity and the connectivity of habitats. This is why FUNDIS is raising awareness about fungi in the public sphere, meanwhile setting the groundwork to inspire conservation efforts and changes in environmental policy.
Recommendations for a Thriving Fungal Future
Fungi are architects of our resilient ecosystems, but they are neglected in conservation efforts across North America. We aim to change this, and to not only integrate fungi into existing conservation frameworks, but to also create new pathways that better understand and protect fungi and their habitats. Below are our top three recommendations for 2024 that will help create a future where fungi are appreciated, understood, documented, and protected:
Open up state, regional, and federal funding for fungal biodiversity research so that Funga can be studied equally to Flora and Fauna.
Increase and strengthen localized community science networks through FUNDIS Local Projects.
Create state mushroom campaigns to elevate fungi in public and state appreciation. Currently only these states recognize mushrooms as state symbols: California, Minnesota, Oregon, Texas, Utah, and Massachusetts.
