The “giant knight” is one of the 1,300 species of the fungal kingdom included in the red list. If many of these species disappear, there would be a serious problem on earth.
Almost a third of the fungal species evaluated by international conservation experts are in danger of extinction due to threats such as agriculture, the deforestation and urban expansion. The red list of the fungal species of the International Union for the conservation of nature (IUCN) now rises 1,300after the evaluation of 482 new species. After the animals, The fungal kingdom is the largest in the worldwith about 2.5 million species, of which about 155,000 have their own name.
“Mushrooms They are the anonymous heroes of life on earth, since they constitute the very base of Healthy ecosystemsYet they have been ignored for a long time, “said General Manager IUCN, Dr. Grethel Aguilar, after updating the red list”. Now is the time to convert this knowledge into action and safeguard the extraordinary fungal kingdom, whose vast underground networks Have nature and life As we know. “
THE IUCN GENERAL RED LIST Now it includes 169,420 species, of which 47,187 threatened of extinction. The last update also reveals that incense trees are increasingly in danger.
Why are mushrooms threatened?
Scientists explain that human activities They were violating the fungal soil. They discovered that 279 species are in danger of extinction due to the rapid growth of agricultural and urban areas. The outflow of nitrogen and ammonia of the fertilizers and the pollution of the engines threaten 91 species are also. It is serious threats In Europe, which are harmful to the very well -known species in the traditional field, such as the fibrous topace (intermediate hygrocybe), cataloged as vulnerable.
At least 198 species of mushrooms They are in danger of extinction due to deforestation for wood production, illegal reduction and disassembly for agriculture. THE Ancient Forest Felling It is particularly destructive, since mushrooms depend on the networks woven over time and do not have time to grow again with the rotation forest.
The iUcn stresses that since 1975 it has been carved 30% of the forests of ancient pines of Finland, Sweden and Russia, which has created species such as the giant knight (Tricholoma Colosso).
Him Climate change It is also responsible for the maximum risk that fungal species work. More than 50 fungal species are in danger of extinction due to changes in fire models in the United States, which have drastically modified forests. The climate of fire – characterized by warm and dry conditions that increase the possibilities to occur – has changed significantly due to climate change, according to research.
How will the loss of mushrooms to life influence?
“Although the mushrooms live mainly hidden underground and inside the forest, their loss affects the life on the surface that It depends on them“Says Professor Anders Dahlberg, coordinator of the Authority of the Red List of the Group of Mushrooms, Parents and Balls of the CSE IUCN.” While we lose the mushrooms, we impoverish the ecosystem services and the resilience that provide, from resistance to drought and pathogens in crops and trees to the conservation of carbon in the ground. “
Most plants are associated with mushrooms to absorb nutrients and, therefore, They cannot exist without themUICN underlines. Many are edible, they are used in the production of food and drinks, including fermentation, form the base of drugs and support biiorisature efforts to clean the contaminated sites.
“It is important that they protect more Ancient forests“Adds Professor Dahlberg.” forest practices They should take into account the mushrooms, for example leaving in dead wood and scattered trees and proactive management of forests can help manage the intensity of the fire. “
The latest UICN update also reveals that the incense trees (Boswellia) face a higher risk of extinction. Six species of incense of the island of partner (Yemen) have gone from the vulnerable category to that of in the street, and three species were evaluated for the first time as in Critical danger.
Cyclones More frequent and intense, floods and sudden landslides are partially guilty, harmful and begin with the root many trees.
“Like the Extreme climate Feast The island, the local action is essential to guarantee the future of the Catenic Incense trees “, says Mohammed Amer, local expert in Boswellia who has contributed to the evaluation of the red list and manages the conservation project of these trees in Socotra.
