IUCN Red List Update: Global Impacts, Regional Statuses, and the Way Forward

IUCN Red List Update: Global Impacts, Regional Statuses, and the Way Forward - IUCN

Image shows three mushrooms on moss — Tricholoma colossus, or giant knight, is found in Scandanavia, parts of Europe and the UK, and parts of Canada in the US. The species was recently added to the Red List as Vulnerable. Photo: Michael Krikorev

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ now includes 169,420 species, of which 47,187 are threatened with extinction, according to the latest assessment.

Fungi species in global decline

Globally, the newest additions have found the number of fungi species on the IUCN Red List to surpass 1,000. The updates to the IUCN Red List have placed 482 additional species of fungi, bringing the total to 1,300, of which at least 411 are at risk of extinction. This is significant as the kingdom of fungi is distinct from animals and plants. They are the second biggest kingdom after animals, with an estimated 2.5 million species, of which around 155,000 are named. Fungi underpin all ecosystems as they give nutrients to plants and make decomposition possible. Many are edible, used in food and drink production including fermentation, form the basis of medicines, and support bioremediation efforts to clean contaminated sites. From an ecological and social perspective, they are vital.

"Fungi are the unsung heroes of life on Earth, forming the very foundation of healthy ecosystems – yet they have long been overlooked. Thanks to the dedication of experts and citizen scientists, we have taken a vital step forward: over 1,000 of the world’s 155,000 known fungal species have now been assessed for the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, the most comprehensive source of information on extinction risk. Now, it’s time to turn this knowledge into action and safeguard the extraordinary fungal kingdom, whose vast underground networks sustain nature and life as we know it," said Dr Grethel Aguilar, IUCN Director General.