Fungi fans celebrate its recognition as nature's third living kingdom

The Australian Labor Party’s national platform now explicitly recognises fungi alongside flora and fauna, marking a significant milestone for conservation and protection, according to fungi advocates. Mycelium, the thread-like structures of fungi, may not comprehend the significance, but it has been silently working underground for millions of years, a role only now beginning to be appreciated by scientists.

At the recent ALP national conference, federal Environment Minister Murray Watt explicitly acknowledged fungi as part of Australia’s natural environment and biodiversity, separate and equal to flora and fauna. This recognition, driven by years of advocacy by mycologists, biologists, ecologists, and the citizen-science organisation Fungimap, follows the addition of the term "funga" to the Cambridge Dictionary, defining fungi as the third kingdom of living things, alongside plants (flora) and animals (fauna).

Catherine Marciniak, a grassroots ALP member and committee member of Fungimap, highlighted the importance of this recognition, stating that it would ensure fungi are included in biodiversity assessments, environmental planning, and threatened species monitoring. Mycologist Michael Priest emphasized fungi’s crucial roles in nutrient recycling, soil health, carbon storage, and supporting the health of most trees, noting that Australia is home to about 250,000 species of fungi, with only around 12,000 formally described.

He stressed that recognising fungi as a distinct kingdom would align Australia with many other countries, such as Chile and the United Kingdom, where fungi have also been given equal recognition.