Fungi may get its own taxonomical kingdom named ‘funga’ for conservation purposes

Fungi may get its own taxonomical kingdom named ‘funga’ for conservation purposes

Sub : Env

Sec: Species in news 

Context: Fungi May Get Their Own Taxonomical Kingdom: ‘Funga’

Proposal for Recognition:

• Chile and the United Kingdom are preparing a proposal to establish a new taxonomical kingdom, “Funga,” for fungi (mushrooms, moulds, yeast, lichen, and mildew).
• The proposal will be presented at the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) during the COP16 in Cali, Colombia starting on October 21, 2024.

Key Points:

• Fungi’s Role:
  • Fungi are essential for ecological processes like decomposition and forest regeneration.
  • They are critical for human food production (bread, cheese, wine, beer, chocolate).
  • Fungi play a major role in climate change mitigation and wildlife conservation by regulating carbon dioxide levels and cleaning polluted soils.
• Neglect in Conservation:
  • Fungi have historically been excluded from conservation strategies, despite their importance.
  • The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) noted that no life on Earth is possible without fungi.
• Understudied:
  • It is estimated that only 8% of the 2.2–3.8 million fungal species have been scientifically identified, with around 2,000 new species discovered annually.

Fungal Threats:

• Environmental Threats:
  • Deforestation, climate change, pollution, and widespread use of fungicides impact fungi significantly.
  • Overharvesting and nitrogen enrichment also pose threats to fungal populations.
• Fungi and Climate Change:
  • Fungi, particularly those in boreal forests, absorb large amounts of carbon through their symbiotic relationship with plant roots.
  • They can serve as a sustainable food source, potentially reducing deforestation driven by cattle ranching and soy farming.

Global Significance:

• If adopted, funga will join flora and fauna as one of the three recognized kingdoms of life: plants, animals, and fungi.

In 2021, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature Species Survival Commission (IUCN SSC) and IUCN Rewild became the first organizations to recognize fungi as a separate kingdom of life.