A non-governmental organization suggests that fungi should be recognized and protected equally with plants and animals since they also play a significant role in the Earth's ecosystems.

New Term for Conservation Talks

In a post on a social media account of the secretariat of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD), the Fungi Foundation mentioned that it was time to recognize fungi in legal conservation frameworks. The foundation is the world's first non-profit organization dedicated to promoting and protecting fungi.

In an Instagram post, UN Biodiversity said that the phrases 'flora, fauna and funga' and 'animal, plants and fungi' should be used when referring to the macroscopic diversity of life on Earth. It also adds that "just like mycelium, mycologically inclusive language will spread unseen but profound [sic], permeating public consciousness (and policy) to acknowledge fungi's vital role in the grand web of life on and in Earth."

Mycologists, mostly from Latin America, established the term "funga" five years ago. This word refers to the levels of fungi diversity in any given area and is analogous to "flora and fauna," which describes plants and animals. Unlike flora and fauna, funga is not a Latin term but was still chosen since it is morphologically similar. In inventing the phrase "fauna, flora, and funga," experts wanted something catchy and could incorporate fungi into the conversation.

Government agencies in Australia, Brazil, Iceland, and other countries have picked up on the word. The creation and use of this term reflect an increasing recognition of the fungal kingdom and its connection to the plant kingdom through an underground network of mycelia.

According to Fungi Foundation chief executive Guiliana Furci, change can be triggered with the use of language. She also adds that this move allows looking at nature as an interdependent set of ecosystems. Experts concentrating on fungal conservation can also protect the entire habitat. Together with biologist Merlin Sheldrake, Furci explains that accounts of the living world that do not involve fungi are accounts of a world that does not exist.

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Benefits of Fungi for Humans and the Environment

Kingdom Fungi play a crucial role in soil biodiversity, as this diverse group of organisms can aid in addressing global challenges such as climate change and hunger. Fungi are closely related to vegetation as well as carbon and nutrient cycling. As a result, they serve as primary drivers of soil health and carbon sequestration.

Members of Kingdom Fungi can transform nutrients. Since some fungi are decomposers that break down plants and animal debris, they help in nutrient cycling and increasing their availability in the soil. They also drive nitrogen fixation and phosphorus mobilization, which are the main requirements for the development of plants.

Fungi are also significant contributors to the carbon cycle through the soil food web. Decomposers cycle carbon from litter and dead plant materials, while other species that live in mutual symbiotic relationships with plant roots, such as mycorrhizal fungi, provide more carbon stocks.

Aside from their importance to the environment, fungi also benefit humans in various ways. Mushrooms are found in many people's diets worldwide, ranking above vegetables in terms of protein content. Aside from this, 6% of edible mushrooms also possess medicinal properties, which can help humans prevent diseases and boost the immune system.

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Check out more news and information on Fungi in Science Times.