At the heart of Earth’s ecosystems lies a kingdom often overlooked in conservation efforts—fungi. To address this omission, the Fungi Foundation, in collaboration with the Fauna, Flora, and Funga (3F) Initiative, introduced the Funga Toolkit early this year.
This comprehensive guide provides organisations with actionable steps to integrate fungi into their conservation language and practices, ensuring they become equal partners alongside flora and fauna in our efforts to protect biodiversity.
Image courtesy: Alan Rockefeller - Coprinellus sect. Domestici
Why the Funga Toolkit Matters
Fungi are essential players in maintaining ecosystems. They recycle nutrients, support plant growth through mycorrhizal partnerships, and even regulate carbon cycling, sequestering a third of global fossil fuel emissions annually. Yet, their exclusion from biodiversity frameworks perpetuates "fungus blindness," distorting our understanding of life on Earth.
The Funga Toolkit seeks to correct this by empowering organisations to adopt mycologically inclusive language and practices, elevating fungi’s role in policy, education, and media.
Image courtesy: Alan Rockefeller - Mycena sp.
What’s Inside the Toolkit?
This 14-page document is packed with insights and guidance, including:
The Role of Fungi in Ecosystems: Explore how fungi underpin global food security, carbon storage, and ecosystem health.
Practical Steps for Inclusivity: Learn how to incorporate "funga" alongside "flora" and "fauna" in your language, visuals, and campaigns.
Case Studies: Discover organisations already leading the charge, like the National Geographic Society and IUCN, which have embraced fungi in their conservation efforts.
Image courtesy: Alan Rockefeller - Clitocybula sp.
A Call to Action: Join the Mycological Movement
The Funga Toolkit is more than a guide—it’s an invitation to reimagine conservation. By adopting mycological language, organisations can pave the way for fungi to be included in conservation policies, unlocking crucial funding for research and educational programs.
Whether you’re a conservation NGO, media organisation, or educational institution, this toolkit provides the resources you need to start making fungi-friendly changes today.
Explore the toolkit, embrace Funga, and become a part of the movement giving fungi the recognition they deserve. Let’s ensure no kingdom of life is left behind.
Access the toolkit here and join the conversation to spotlight your organisation’s efforts in fostering mycological inclusivity. Together, we can build a more complete and inclusive understanding of biodiversity.