The fibrous waxcap is threatened with extinction, according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Michael Krikorev Why you can trust us Founded in 2005 as an Ohio-based environmental newspaper, EcoWatch is a digital platform dedicated to publishing quality, science-based content on environmental issues, causes, and solutions. There are now more than 1,000 fungi species on the International Union for Conservation of Nature ( IUCN)’s Red List of Threatened Species . Deforestation , urban development and agricultural expansion are driving their global decline. There are currently 169,420 species on the Red List, 47,187 of which face extinction, a press release from IUCN said. Recently added to the list are 482 fungi species, bringing their total to 1,300, at least 411 of which are threatened with extinction . “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 n ature and life as we know it, ” said IUCN Director General Dr. Grethel Aguilar in the press release. Fungi habitats have been replaced by the rapid expansion of urban and agricultural areas, threatening 279 fungi species with extinction. Fertilizer runoff and engine pollution threaten an additional 91 species. In Europe, these are significant threats that impact well-known traditional countryside species like the fibrous waxcap ( Hygrocybe intermedia ), which is listed as vulnerable. Illegal logging, deforestation for timber production and […]