GLOBAL FUNGAL CONSERVATION: STRATEGIES, CASE STUDIES, AND FUTURE PERSPECTIVES
TL;DR
The diversity of fungi, the threats they face, including habitat destruction, overexploitation, climate change, climate change, and invasive species, and the methods developed for their preservation are reviewed.
Abstract
ABSTRACT: Fungi are integral components of ecosystems, contributing to nutrient cycling, decomposition, and symbiotic interactions with plants. Despite their ecological, economic, and medicinal significance, fungal conservation has historically been neglected compared to plants and animals. This reviews the diversity of fungi, the threats they face, including habitat destruction, overexploitation, climate change, and invasive species, and the methods developed for their preservation. Both in situ strategies, such as habitat protection, regulated harvesting, and environmental monitoring, and ex situ approaches, including cryopreservation, lyophilization, and culture collections, are examined through global case studies. Notable examples include the conservation efforts in Egypt, which integrate scientific research, community engagement, and legal frameworks, and the maintenance of fungal specimens in major international culture collections. Additional case studies from the Mediterranean region highlight the importance of preserving natural habitats to sustain fungal functional diversity. Moreover, the role of education, culture, and community-based initiatives, particularly in the Middle East and North Africa, demonstrates that effective fungal conservation requires societal awareness alongside technical measures. Collectively, these examples illustrate that a combination of ecological, institutional, and cultural approaches is essential for the long-term preservation of fungal biodiversity and the stability of ecosystems. Keywords: fungal diversity; Ophiocordyceps sinensis; in-situ conservation; Hericium erinaceus culture; banks and laboratories; Amanita caesarea.