IUCN Red List Update: Global Impacts, Regional Statuses, and the Way Forward
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ now includes 169,420 species, of which 47,187 are threatened with extinction, according to the latest assessment.
Tricholoma colossus, or giant knight, is found in Scandanavia, parts of Europe and the UK, and parts of Canada in the US. The species was recently added to the Red List as Vulnerable.
Fungi species in global decline
Globally, the newest additions have found the number of fungi species on the IUCN Red List to surpass 1,000. The updates to the IUCN Red List have placed 482 additional species of fungi, bringing the total to 1,300, of which at least 411 are at risk of extinction. This is significant as the kingdom of fungi is distinct from animals and plants. They are the second biggest kingdom after animals, with an estimated 2.5 million species, of which around 155,000 are named. Fungi underpin all ecosystems as they give nutrients to plants and make decomposition possible. Many are edible, used in food and drink production including fermentation, form the basis of medicines, and support bioremediation efforts to clean contaminated sites. From an ecological and social perspective, they are vital.
"Fungi are the unsung heroes of life on Earth, forming the very foundation of healthy ecosystems – yet they have long been overlooked. Thanks to the dedication of experts and citizen scientists, we have taken a vital step forward: over 1,000 of the world’s 155,000 known fungal species have now been assessed for the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, the most comprehensive source of information on extinction risk. Now, it’s time to turn this knowledge into action and safeguard the extraordinary fungal kingdom, whose vast underground networks sustain nature and life as we know it," said Dr Grethel Aguilar, IUCN Director General.
Unfortunately, many fungi species are at risk from several factors including, land use changes, deforestation, and climate change. Rapid growth of agricultural and urban areas has replaced fungi habitats, putting 279 species at risk of extinction. Nitrogen and ammonia run-off from fertilizers and engine pollution also threaten 91 species. At least 198 species of fungi are at risk of extinction due to deforestation for timber production, illegal logging, and clearing for agriculture. Clear-cutting of old-growth forests is especially damaging, destroying fungi that do not have time to re-establish with rotation forestry. Climate change is impacting fungi. Over 50 fungi species are at risk of extinction due to changes in fire patterns in the USA, which have drastically changed forests. Firs have grown to dominate the high Sierra Nevada mountain woods since 1980, reducing habitat for Endangered Gastroboletus citrinobrunneus.
“While fungi mainly live hidden underground and inside wood, their loss impacts the life above-ground that depends on them. As we lose fungi, we impoverish the ecosystem services and resilience they provide, from drought and pathogen resistance in crops and trees to storing carbon in the soil,” said Professor Anders Dahlberg, Red List Authority Coordinator of the IUCN SSC Mushroom, Bracket and Puffball Specialist Group. “It is important that more old-growth forests are protected. Forestry practices should consider fungi, for example leaving dead wood and scattered trees, and proactive forest management can help manage fire intensity.”
Statistics of regional interest: the US
In addition to these global assessments, there were a number of findings pertaining to the North America region, largely within the US due to higher numbers of comprehensive assessments. In the US, of the 582 endemic Freshwater Fish species, 14 were found to be either Extinct or Extinct in the Wild while 139 were found to be in one of the Threatened categories (Critically Endangered, Endangered, Vulnerable). There are 77 endemic Bird species in the US assessed by the IUCN Red List. Nearly all of them were found to be either Threatened or Extinct/Extinct in the Wild. Trees in the US also marked a major taxonomic group reported. Out of 519 endemic Tree species assessed by the Red List, over half were found to be Threatened. Finally, the 343 endemic Freshwater Crayfish in the US were another highly reported group. For this taxonomic group, 56 endemic species are Threatened and 2 are Extinct or Extinct in the wild.
What can be done in the North America region
Seeing the staggering losses of populations in the region and around the world, North America, as a global leader, can serve as a trailblazer to mobilize resources and propose action steps to protect these vital populations both nationally and globally. The declining numbers listed on the IUCN Red List are not just statistics—they serve as urgent warnings, calling for action at every level. Alongside frightening population drops, IUCN tools assess primary threats to these species, as in the case of fungi through urban and agricultural expansion, deforestation, and climate change. As such, governments and non-governmental entities can target intervention at these threats to halt these trends. Cross-sector collaboration will be essential to achieve sustainable, long-term results. We have the ability to reverse these declines and create a thriving, biodiverse future for generations to come. Action must be taken today to use these tools and make this vision a reality.
