Why Protecting Fungi Matters For Mycopreneurs (Part 2)

Why Protecting Fungi Matters for Mycopreneurs II: The Fungal Conservation Pledge and Including Fungi in Wildlife Trade Policies

Ezequiel A. Cruz-Campuzano - Fungaria

Hello again my fellow mycopreneurs! In our last installment, we had a brief review of fungal conservancy initiatives over the years, highlighting examples of countries that have official or unofficial Red Lists for threatened fungi. Just as a reminder, let’s take another look again at the map showcasing fungi included in Red Lists at national and global scale, which reveals a somewhat worrying panorama–Most countries lack a fungal Red List (Niskanen et al., 2023).

Species of fungi included in Red Lists at national and global scale (Niskanen et al., 2023): a) Species included per country by official or unofficial national Red Lists (counting as unofficial those without appropriate governmental endorsement or not using IUCN’s criteria to assess conservation status’); b) Species included per country by the IUCN’s global Red List as of December 2022.

And while it’s easy to assume that countries lacking this information have more important issues to address, many of them have deep-rooted traditions where wild mushrooms play a crucial role. Failing to assess the status of these species can lead not only to the sole extinction of a fungal lineage—it also threatens invaluable biocultural heritage. Take Termitomyces species, for example. Highly valued for their edible and medicinal properties, these fungi hold significant cultural importance in native communities across countries of Asia and Africa, like Nepal, Namibia, and Thailand (Aryal & Budathoki, 2016; Mukwata et al., 2023; Paloi et al., 2023). Yet, in many of these regions, their conservation status, and the overall status of their Funga remains entirely unassessed.

Now that we’ve come across the term again, let’s remember that “FUNGA” is the correct term to refer to the fungal communities of a given condition (Kuhar et al., 2018), placing it on equal footing with Fauna and Flora. Raising awareness about the need to recognize fungal biodiversity separately has already influenced federal legislation in many countries: e.g. in Chile and Poland, anyone seeking to change land use is now required to document in the EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment) not just the plants and animals present, but also the fungal species within the area before proceeding with development (Niskanen et al., 2023; Oyanedel et al., 2022). 

Additionally, we explored how European countries had been assessing their fungal biodiversity long before the term Funga was even introduced. As awareness of fungi’s crucial role in ecosystems grows, more countries outside Europe are beginning to take steps toward their conservation. Mexico, for instance, has officially listed certain wild mushrooms under national protection. However, the criteria for selecting these fungi remain ambiguous at best, as the current assessment largely followed guidelines designed for animals, thus leaving species with biocultural importance and/or restricted distribution unprotected. This highlights the need for fungi-specific conservation guidelines (Hernández-López et al., 2021); (de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales (SEMARNAT), 2010).

On a global scale, the push for Fungal recognition has also had a huge impact. For example, we previously stated that the IUCN’S Global Red List was established in 1964, but it was only until 2003 when the first two fungal species (two lichens, Cladonia perforata & Erioderma pedicellatum) were included in it! And even more striking, did you know that as of 2015, only a single mushroom species (Pleurotus nebrodensis) was considered in the list? (Mueller et al., 2022). Nowadays, over a thousand species have been formerly assessed, with 411 of them being recognized as at risk of extinction (International Union for Conservation of Nature, 2025; The Global Fungal Red List Initiative, 2025).

Number of red-listed fungi over the years (The Global Fungal Red List Initiative, 2025).

Nevertheless, when it comes to the trade of wild fungi, there is still much work to be done. While some countries have regulations for sustainable harvesting at local or national levels, there are no international policies governing the trade of fungal species. Even CITES—the organization responsible for regulating the trade of endangered species—is yet to include any fungi from the Global Red List in its protections (Oyanedel et al., 2024). In response to this, two key initiatives are gaining momentum: the Fungal Conservation Pledge and the effort to include fungi in CITES appendices. Let’s take a closer look at each.

The Fungal Conservation Pledge

Led by the governments of Chile and the UK, in collaboration with the Fungi Foundation, this initiative was presented at the 16th Conference of the Parties (COP16) of the United Nations' Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), held in Colombia last November. Its goal is for each participating country of the CBD to recognize Funga as a distinct component of a nation’s biodiversity and, consequently, implement policies & legislations that ensure their protection and sustainable management at different scales, ranging from local to global entities. The pledge is available at: https://faunaflorafunga.org/resources/.

Promotional flyer of the “Fungal Conservation Pledge”, presented at the Chilean Pavilion during the COP16 in Cali, Colombia
(Retrieved from:  https://x.com/KewScience/status/1852635591139020842).

The Inclusion of Fungi in CITES’ appendices

This past January, Giuliana Furci of the Fungi Foundation, in collaboration with John Scanlon (former Secretary-General of CITES), presented a compelling case for why fungi deserve international trade regulations (2025). Their proposal, delivered at the 78th CITES meeting, begins with a critical omission right from the get go: Fungi are completely absent from CITES’ full name–Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. So, to even begin regulating their trade, we must first recognize them by naming them in CITES’ official name.

Moreover, Furci and Scanlon highlight 13 fungal species, already recognized as globally threatened by the IUCN, as candidates for CITES regulation due to their ecological, medicinal, or commercial importance. One of these species is Lactifluus chiapanensis (listed as Lactarius in the document), which was mentioned earlier in this article. Like the other twelve mentioned, This species not only requires a formal conservation assessment but also demands careful monitoring in terms of trade. With its habitat facing significant threats, the small populations of this fungus could be driven to extinction, disrupting traditional consumption and selling practices and ultimately leading to the loss of its biocultural heritage. (Bandala et al., 2014; Bandala & Montoya, 2015).

Additionally, the proposal calls for the direct inclusion of two highly exploited and globally tradedspecies in the CITES appendices: Tricholoma matsutake, a sought-after edible mushroom, and Ophiocordyceps sinensis, a fungus widely used in traditional medicine. The latter has found its way into countless pachamama-esque cupboards, often as tinctures and supplements. But here’s the catch: its sourcing is sometimes a mystery. Was it wild-harvested, or farmed? And if farmed, how was the strain obtained, and who actually owns the rights to the native lineage? Full summary of agreements and key considerations from the CITES meeting can be accessed here: https://cites.org/eng/node/141752.

Repercussions of these initiatives on Fungal Entrepreneurism

How do these initiatives impact mycopreneurship? For starters, implementing policies for fungal protection will lead to comprehensive conservation assessments of a country's native Funga. As a result, certain wild species that are not yet cultivated in laboratories—such as ectomycorrhizal fungi—may be classified as threatened, leading to stricter regulations on their harvesting and trade (Heilmann-Clausen et al., 2015; Niego et al., 2023) (e.g. Amanita chrysoblema the north american version of the overhyped A. muscaria). 

Right or wrong? You tell me. Personally, I believe that regulations will drive more extensive testing, leading to better-performing products that require fewer resources—maximizing the use of harvested fruiting bodies. Additionally, regulating wild mushroom-based products will bring greater transparency regarding the actual mushroom content in each item. Both advancements ultimately benefit consumers by ensuring higher-quality products. 

Another key point that we must consider is that assuring the prevalence of wild fungi will also protect ancient mycopreneurial practices, because let’s remember that fungal entrepreneurship isn’t just about big businesses or mass-produced goods—it’s also deeply rooted in the heritage of Indigenous traditions. Across the world, many Indigenous communities around the world rely on wild mushrooms, not just for food but as an important source of income during mushroom season. Hence, ignoring these traditional practices would mean overlooking a rich and sustainable form of mycopreneurship that has existed for generations. By protecting wild fungi and the forests they grow in, we’re not just conserving biodiversity—we’re also ensuring that these cultural and economic traditions continue to thrive (Pérez-Moreno et al., 2021a; Pérez-Moreno et al., 2021b).

And now, let’s touch on a sensitive issue: without proper conservation and trade policies, we can’t be sure whether the products we’re seeing are being produced ethically or if they’re the result of biopiracy. We’ll dive deeper into this topic in our next installment, but to leave you with thought-provoking questions—last year, a paper by Miller et al. (2024) explored the chemistry, genetics, and cultivation of Psilocybe zapotecorum, with material collected in Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico. But here’s the thing: were those fruiting bodies legally collected? Or did we witness a case of scientific vandalism? Who sought to use this material, and for what purpose? A scientific work of this kind could be easily translated into commercial exploitation, but who should be the owner of this knowledge and subsequent patent? if there should be one in the first place. And shouldn’t the local communities, who have been using these fungi for generations, be involved in or at least informed about such research? After all, they’re the true stewards of this invaluable biodiversity…right?

I’ll share my thoughts on this and other related topics soon. Until then, keep Fungin’.

(Editor’s note: Ezequiel included a massive list of academic references, I’ve chosen to omit them for newsletter readability sake, but they’re available upon request)

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