An important environmental initiative will be considered at the upcoming meeting of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity COP16, which will be held on October 21 in the Colombian city of Cali. The UK and Chile intend to propose that mushrooms be singled out as a separate category of protected organisms, on par with animals and plants. This was reported by gazeta.ru with reference to The Guardian.

According to the proposed plan, not only mushrooms but also mold, yeast and lichens will receive a new status. The initiating countries emphasize the need to recognize mushrooms as an independent kingdom of living nature at the legislative level, which will permit special measures to be developed for their conservation.

The initiative is based on numerous scientific studies confirming the key role of fungi in ecosystems. They are involved in soil restoration, carbon absorption and even the decomposition of plastic and other pollutants.

Mycologists note the exceptional importance of fungi for the existence of land plants. In their opinion, without fungi, modern life on Earth would be impossible, since most plants would not be able to exist outside the aquatic environment.