1,302 fungal species published on the global IUCN Red List: what patterns occur for those found in Italy?

Abstract

Fungi are an integral part of the rich biodiversity and cultural heritage of Italy but are often overlooked in conservation efforts. Here, we explore how Red Lists have increased our knowledge of Italian fungi in a conservation context. We focus on species of fungi found in Italy on the global IUCN Red List of Threatened Species^TM, but also draw on national, and subnational Red List projects for comparisons and to highlight other fungal assessment work completed in the country. Often, more localized assessments, such as for Boletales and Pezizomycotina species, fill in taxonomic or economically important gaps present on the global Red List. From the species assessed on the global Red List found in Italy, we found that 62.7% are assessed as Least Concern and that 73.4% are mycorrhizal. Similar to the global scale, Ascomycota are poorly represented (3.2%) among assessed Italian fungal species, and the most common threats to species are habitat loss due to development, timber harvesting, changes in forestry management practices, and harvesting of the fungi themselves. Translating these Red List assessments into conservation actions and policy for individual species and habitats to protect the Italian funga, along with flora and fauna, are a goal moving forward.