A Strategy for the Conservation of the UK's Fungi: 2008-2015
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A Strategy for the Conservation of the UK’s Fungi: 2008-2015 FUNGUS CONSERVATION FORUM Published by Plantlife International Fungus Conservation Forum Acknowledgements: on behalf of the Fungus Conservation member organisations: Martyn Ainsworth, Martin Allison, Peter Forum. Association of British Fungus Groups Brash, Jill Butler, Oliver Cheeseman, British Mycological Society Chris Cheffings, Jenny Duckworth, Mike The Fungus Conservation Forum is a CABI Edgington, Shelley Evans, Hubert Fuller, network of organisations working for Countryside Council for Wales David Genney, Ted Green, Alan Hale, Liz the conservation of fungi across the Department of Environment Northern Holden, Oliver Howells, Rebecca Isted, UK. It has 17 member organisations Ireland Michael Jordan, Sarah Jupp, Paul Kirk, representing the field mycological Forestry Commission Kim Lehoucka, Deborah Long, Jayne community, non-government Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust Manley, Jim Munford, Peter Roberts, organisations, scientific societies and JNCC David Rumble, Mark Spencer, Brian statutory organisations. MOD Spooner, Jill Stevens, Pete Stevens, The National Trust Malcolm Storey, Jill Sutcliffe, Fiona Tite, Natural England Roy Watling, Ray Woods, Mark Wright. Plantlife (Chair) Royal Botanic Gardens Kew RSPB Scottish Natural Heritage University College Dublin Woodland Trust 2 | Strategy for the Conservation of the UK’s Fungi KEITH HARVEY KEITH HARVEY ‘It was mind-blowing to me that something I knew nothing about was the sophisticated engineer of all that I could see’ Tim Smit Monilia fructigena, cause of the very common brown rot of apples Contents Foreword Tim Smit 4 Executive Summary 7 Summary of Objectives and Targets 8 Introduction 10 A partnership to conserve the 12 UK’s fungi Objective 1: Understanding and 14 documenting fungal diversity Objective 2: Conserving fungal 16 diversity Objective 3: Using fungal diversity 18 sustainably Objective 4: Promoting education 20 and awareness about fungal diversity Objective 5: Building capacity for 22 the conservation of fungal diversity Summary table linking UK and 24 country targets References 26 Strategy for the Conservation of the UK’s Fungi | 3 Foreword Neil Young produced an album entitled ‘Rust never Sleeps’. While the memory of the music lingers only faintly now, the phrase has a haunting quality which stays with me and I am reminded of it by the invitation to write the foreword to ‘Saving the Forgotten Kingdom’. The domain of which it speaks is that of fungi, a curious word, with echoes of death, or at least something of the night. How wrong one can be! I first became aware of the world of fungi when the Humid Tropics Team at Eden talked endlessly about mycorrhizal as- sociation and the dependence that most plants of the rainforest have on fungi. On closer enquiry I was introduced to a revelation; that this tropical abundance was made possible through the interface between fungi and the roots of trees and plants. They were the engine room of a di- gestive tract that transformed the inedible but nutritious into a medium that could be absorbed. The fungi were the stomach for the roots of the trees and plants. It was mind-blowing to me that something I knew nothing about was the sophisti- cated engineer of all that I could see. I described this to friends at dinner tables with my clumsy unscientific language and they marvelled. Fungi are truly extraordi- nary and more people should know about them as they are vital to our existence and that of the planet as we know it. There are estimated to be more than 1.5 million species of fungi in the world and 12,000 have been identified in the UK alone (as against c. 2,000 flowering ‘One of the great privileges in being plants). In one small 380 ha of Esher and Oxshott Common in Surrey more than invited to write this foreword is to 3,300 species have been recorded. As research unfolds we are shining a light be able to applaud the mycological on an increasingly complex series of community in their farsighted relationships between plants and fungi. approach and their commitment.’ 4 | Strategy for the Conservation of the UK’s Fungi LAURIE CAMPBELL Meadows are linked by these interconnected plumbing systems and it appears that they play an integral part in balancing the nutrient availability across species, protecting biodiversity. Kill the fungi by throwing artificial fertiliser over the fields and the diversity is decimated. As these relationships are coming to be better understood we stand at the dawning of a new age. Imagine the end of our reliance on petrochemicals and a new agrarian revolution based on working with the grain of nature and you get a glimmer of a world in which fungi are not the Widow Twankies, but the Prince Charmings of a new order. This is hugely exciting stuff. While this strategy for the conservation of the fungi in the UK underpins the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC) it directly contributes to the Global target to ‘halt loss of biodiversity’. But it is more fundamental than that. Fungi may well be the best weapon for conservation that we have. Based on the 5 objectives identified by GSPC, this strategy for the conservation of the UK’s fungi identifies 18 targets that need to be progressed by 2015 - and they will be. With a good agent and PR team fungi could be granted the A-list status they truly deserve. One of the great privileges in being invited to write this foreword is to be able to applaud the mycological community in their farsighted approach to the subject and their commitment to collaborate in the name of making a real and long-term difference. In our jargon heavy world, ‘joined-up thinking’ is a horrible buzzword, but for once, in the world of fungi, it seems strangely, yet beautifully appropriate. Tim Smit CBE Chief Executive of the Eden Project 2008 Fly Agaric Amanita muscaria Strategy for the Conservation of the UK’s Fungi | 5 Velvet Shank or Winter Mushroom Flammulina velutipes 6 | Strategy for the Conservation of the UK’s Fungi Executive summary TIM WILKINS / PLANTLIFE TIM WILKINS / PLANTLIFE The importance of fungi to the health and The importance of fungi to the welfare of the planet is no longer in any doubt and the days of suspicion when health and welfare of the planet is most fungi were considered poisonous are over. Fungi are now being embraced no longer in any doubt. and conserved for their beauty, their contribution to nutrient cycling and soil fertility, as a source of medicines and other valuable chemicals, as a food source and as a substantial part of the Earth’s biodiversity. The need is greater than ever for a better appreciation and understanding of these intriguing organisms and an ambitious yet achievable strategy to provide a sound framework to take forward the conservation of fungi in the UK. Given the limited resources available, the Fungus Conservation Forum participating organisations have joined together to co-ordinate their work of raising awareness of fungi – perhaps the one kingdom of the living world that is least widely understood. We know a great deal about these organisms, yet we also know that there is potentially still much to discover especially with regard to their conservation. Understanding and conserving this large and complex kingdom is an enormous task. There are three key outcomes that will determine the success of this strategy: ■ Better understanding of fungal diversity and fungal ecology so we can communicate sustainable management practice effectively; ■ Improved awareness across society of the importance of fungi and better articulation of the needs of fungus conservation to policy makers and funders; ■ Knowledge acted upon and passed on to future generations through building the capacity of people and communities across the UK. Strategy for the Conservation of the UK’s Fungi | 7 Summary of objectives and targets Objective 1: Understanding and documenting fungal diversity Target 1 Fungus distribution data to be accessible and regularly updated Target 2 Status of UK fungi to be assessed Target 3 Checklists of remaining fungal groups to be produced Target 4 Targeted research into fungal diversity and taxonomy to be undertaken Objective 2: Conserving fungal diversity Appropriately targeted ecological research to be undertaken to identify the ecological requirements of Target 5 fungi and the land management practices that provide these conditions Target 6 Important areas for fungal diversity to be conserved and managed appropriately Target 7 Conservation actions to be initiated for priority species and groups Threats posed by naturalised non-native fungus species to be assessed and action taken to Target 8 communicate and manage risk Target 9 Species status monitoring methods to be developed Objective 3: Using fungal diversity sustainably Research to be undertaken into the conservation and socio-economic impacts of collection, Target 10 particularly at the commercial scale Target 11 Encourage sustainable harvesting Encourage good practice and the sustainable collection of specimens to further scientific Target 12 understanding Objective 4: Promoting education and awareness about fungal diversity Greater awareness of fungus conservation and the contribution of fungi to our well-being and social, Target 13 environmental and economic viability Develop education and awareness raising initiatives by the various fungus groups, statutory Target 14 organisations, charities and voluntary societies Mycology to be embedded in the national implementation of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation Target 15 by 2010 and beyond Objective 5: Building capacity for the conservation of fungal diversity Target 16 Provision and development of national centres of excellence to support fungus conservation Target 17 Further improve communication between conservation and field recording communities Professional training and development of mycological expertise to be developed to ensure that there is Target 18 sufficient capacity for the future 8 | Strategy for the Conservation of the UK’s Fungi DOMINIC PRICE / PLANTLIFE DOMINIC PRICE / PLANTLIFE Understanding and conserving this large and complex kingdom is an enormous task.