Italy joins international pledge to protect fungal diversity
Italy has joined the Fungal Conservation Pledge at COP17, a international commitment to recognize fungal diversity as a core part of biodiversity and to build it into conservation policies. Domestically, ISPRA's Mycological Diversity Study Network works on expanding knowledge of Italian fungi and manages fungal data through the Fungi Information System.
What does it mean?
Italy has officially signed up to a pledge that asks countries to take fungi seriously when they plan nature protection. Fungi help soil work and help damaged land recover, so the pledge is about including them in conservation decisions. The change mainly affects how government and scientists plan future nature work.
Who is affected?
Scientists, conservation planners and the public bodies that protect Italian nature.