History of Conservation in BMS

The conservation of fungi has lagged behind that of most other organisms for a variety of reasons, including the lack of appreciation of the role of fungi in natural ecosystems by other naturalists, ecologists and conservationists, the fact that fungi are generally more difficult to identify than other groups, and that there are still major gaps in our knowledge of the distribution of fungi, past and present. Yet the threats to the survival of fungi are similar to those affecting other organisms, including loss of habitat, pollution and climate change. Large-scale collection of edible mushrooms, using vehicles in forests and, especially, excessive trampling is known to be damaging to mycelia.

To address these problems the Society appointed the present writer as Conservation Officer in 1985. Initially much time and effort was spent in discussion with other biological societies and conservation organisations, including government agencies and charitable societies. This activity, which was continued by the next two conservation officers, the late Maurice Rotheroe and Shelley Evans, helped towards the formation of the UK Fungus Conservation Forum.

During this same period many countries across Europe were producing Red Data Lists of threatened fungi in their territories, and the present writer prepared a provisional list for Britain and Ireland. The list was published to coincide with the Congress of European Mycologists held at Kew, which the Society hosted. In spite of its shortcomings the list formed a basis for recognising fungi of conservation importance, their inclusion in protection schedules of the Wildlife and Countryside Act, the preparation of Biodiversity Action Plans (BAP) at national and local level, and led to the concept of Priority Fungi.  The list was geared towards species associated with endangered habitats, such as ancient woodland, grassland, sand dunes and wetlands. Species of Hygrocybe, declining rapidly across Europe especially H. calyptriformis, became the flagship species for fungal conservation. Maurice and Shelley developed the successful waxcap recording scheme. As a result, we now have a much better idea of what constitutes a good example of waxcap grassland, and several of the most important grasslands have been scheduled as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

Also highlighted in the original list were the tooth-fungi - Bankera, Hydnellum, Phellodon and Sarcodon . many of which are characteristic of the native pinewoods of the Scottish Highlands. These especially vulnerable groups are now the subject of regular monitoring, which is essential if we are to plot recovery or decline and to evaluate the impact of management. Other rare fungi include old-forest polypores, e.g. Piptoporus quercinus on ancient oaks in wood pasture sites.

Another monitoring project, linked to a BAP, involves Tulostoma niveum, known from Finland, Sweden, and Norway and two areas in Scotland. It inhabits moss tufts on limestone boulders, was discovered at Inchnadamph in 1989. A second site was discovered later by Liz Holden near Braemar, 100 km south of the sites at Inchnadamph.  Although it is probably a recent arrival in Scotland it is globally rare and therefore deserves attention.

Since 1992 the I.U.C.N. has changed its categories and criteria, making many of the entries in the original list invalid. This has now been addressed. However, the fact remains that many species which are not technically eligible to be included in a British list are themselves in dramatic decline in the rest of Europe. We have a duty to protect them as far as we can, so we include them in a separate category - that of European concern. This revised list is available on the Society’s website. Red Lists cannot, and should not, be final and need updating every 5 years or so.

At international level the Society has been an active member of the European Council for the Conservation of Fungi and has taken an active role in lobbying the Berne Convention to include fungi in their protection categories.  Both the present writer and Shelley have been members of the Fungal Committee of the Species Survival Commission of the I.U.C.N. and have attempted to influence the thinking behind the criteria for threat categories to make them more relevant to fungi.

On the positive side we now find fungi included in conservation management plans. For example, a local nature reserve has been established on a roadside in Suffolk where there is a thriving population of Battarraea phalloides. Several major sites, such as the New Forest, Sherwood Forest, Epping Forest and Wyre Forest, include the richness of the mycota in the reasons for their scheduling as SSSIs or nature reserves.

There is still one major hurdle to clear. It would help the cause of their conservation if fungi produced the same responses in the general public as orchids, butterflies, birds or red squirrels. We want to remove the ‘ugh’ factor and replace it with the ‘ah’ factor.

Bruce Ing, Conservation Advisor 2010