Brazil Creates First List of Threatened Fungi

Brazil’s Ministry of Environment and Climate Change published a decree in June establishing the nation’s first list of fungi threatened with extinction. The measure recognizes 24 Brazilian fungal species as vulnerable or endangered, 21 are classified as “vulnerable” and three as “in danger.” This action gives Brazilian fungi the same legal weight as fauna and flora, a change researchers believe is critical for protecting the country’s ecosystems.

Historically, fungi have been excluded from environmental policies. The new decree prohibits collecting, transporting, storing, handling, processing, and selling the listed species, though research is permitted with a license from the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation.

Researchers assessed 123 fungal species for inclusion, finding approximately 50 threatened globally, but the initial Brazilian list includes only 24 due to differing technical criteria for data precision. Experts estimate another 20 species could be added as more precise location data becomes available.