Closing knowledge gaps in fungal biodiversity and its conservation - Introduction to the session

Fungi represent a megadiverse kingdom, and play crucial ecological roles as decomposers of dead organic matter and through biotic interactions as parasites, pathogens and symbionts in terrestrial, freshwater, and marine ecosystems. They are of fundamental importance for carbon cycling in most ecosystems, and directly or indirectly influence the activity and biodiversity of other organisms. Despite their importance, major gaps remain in our understanding of fungal biodiversity and conservation. These include knowledge gaps in taxonomy, biogeography, ecology, traits, trends and sensitivity to environmental change, which are crucial for the success of conservation of fungi, interacting organisms, and entire ecosystems. We also see strong geographic biases in fungal knowledge and expertise, with many presumed biodiversity hotspots vastly understudied and excluded from large-scale initiatives. Partly as a consequence of these gaps, fungi have been underrepresented in biodiversity monitoring programs, conservation planning, and policy frameworks. However, recent methodological advancements, including those in molecular techniques, citizen science, etc. allow for inclusion and upscaling of fungi biodiversity data. The fungal perspective could also provide new ways to think about biodiversity monitoring and conservation, which embrace biotic interactions or the functioning of ecosystems, for instance. In this introductory presentation to the session, we will outline key knowledge gaps and provide guiding questions and concepts for a discussion and to map ways forward to reduce these gaps with improved inclusion and collaboration. We will also introduce important initiatives aimed at addressing some of these knowledge gaps and at developing concepts and experiences. The goal of this introductory presentation is to contextualise the contributions of the session and guide the discussions to support the development of frameworks and concepts needed for effective fungal biodiversity monitoring and conservation, and ultimately to facilitate the integration of fungi in respective programs and policies. Given the increasing awareness of fungi in academia, among land managers, policymakers and society in general, inclusion of fungi in biodiversity monitoring and conservation programs is urgent, relevant, and timely.