Almost a third of the **species of fungi** assessed by the **International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)** are threatened due to human activities such as agriculture, [deforestation](https://noticiasambientales.com/medio-ambiente/por-el-aumento-de-la-deforestacion-en-la-amazonia-llueve-menos/), and urbanization.
Out of the **169,420 species** included in the IUCN’s general Red List, **47,187 are threatened**, and now **1,300 species of fungi** are added, following the assessment of **482 new species**.
## Crucial Role of Fungi
Reasons why fungi are essential for ecosystems:
– **Key Functions**: Drought resistance, carbon storage, support for crops and trees against pathogens.
– **Vital Interactions**: Most plants depend on fungi to absorb nutrients, demonstrating that without them, plant life would be unsustainable.
– **Human Uses**: Some are edible and essential for food production, for example, in fermentation. Additionally, many are the basis for medicines and bioremediation in contaminated sites.
## Threats to Fungi
Due to the **impact of agriculture and urban expansion**, 279 species were affected by the loss of fungal soil. Moreover, nitrogen and ammonia contamination from fertilizers endanger 91 species.
Deforestation is another threatening factor. 198 species are vulnerable due to the logging of old forests, essential for fungal networks. A critical example is the **giant knight mushroom (Tricholoma colossus)**, affected by the loss of **30%** of old pine forests in Finland, Sweden, and Russia since 1975.
**Climate change has endangered** **50 species** due to alterations in wildfire patterns in the United States. Warm and dry conditions, intensified by climate change, drastically modify habitats.
## Impacts of Fungal Loss
The loss of fungi has significant consequences:
– **Impoverished Ecosystems**: Less resilience to droughts and pathogens. Reduction of essential ecosystem services such as carbon storage in the soil.
– **Impact on Surface Life**: Plants, dependent on fungi, will face limitations in their development and adaptation.
## Necessary Measures for Fungi Protection
Professor Anders Dahlberg, coordinator of the IUCN’s Red List Authority for Fungi, and other experts emphasize the importance of protecting ecosystems:
– **Protection of Old Forests**: Leaving dead wood and scattered trees to maintain fungal networks.
– **Forest Management**: Proactive practices to mitigate fires and protect soil.
– **Local and Global Action**: Promoting policies and conservation efforts that prioritize the integrity of the fungal kingdom.
## Other Critical Findings
The latest update also warns about the growing risk of extinction of **frankincense trees** (*Boswellia*). On the island of Socotra, Yemen, six species went from vulnerable to endangered, and three were assessed as critically endangered due to more intense cyclones, flash floods, and landslides.
This urgent call to action highlights the [need to protect essential species](https://noticiasambientales.com/compromiso-ambiental/cordoba-endurecio-la-legislacion-para-proteger-especies-en-peligro-de-extincion/) such as fungi and frankincense trees to preserve ecosystems and combat the increasing threats of climate change and human activity.
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