Joint Network for wild Fungi (JoNeF)

Two main legislative drivers exist, which are not exclusive to fungi, but rather for habitats and species:

1. The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD1992)[1]
2. The Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora (Habitats Directive 1992[2]
3. The Directive 2003/4/EC on public access to environmental information[3].

There are several non-legislative drivers including:

• the Guidelines Art. 17 “DG Environment. 2023. Reporting under Article 17 of the Habitats Directive: Guidelines on concepts and definitions – Article 17 of Directive 92/43/EEC, Reporting period 2019-2024” [4], in which in the chapter 2.6 “Structure and functions” (pag. 92) it is reported that “typical species may be drawn from any species group and consideration should be given to also selecting […] fungi […]. The choice of species should not be restricted to the species listed in Annexes II, IV and V of the Habitats Directive”
• the document “Examples of components of habitat condition per habitat group and their links with potential typical species elaborated for 2007-2012 reporting” [5], in which fungi are reported as “factors of structure and functions to be considered when assessing the parameter” in some habitat groups [Heaths & scrub (4***, 51**), Grasslands (6***), Forest (9***)]
• the document “Interpretation Manual of European Union Habitats - EUR28”[6], in which particular fungal species are reported for specific habitat types [6270 * Fennoscandian lowland species-rich dry to mesic grasslands; 9010 * Western Taïga; 9020 * Fennoscandian hemiboreal natural old broad-leaved deciduous forests (Quercus, Tilia, Acer, Fraxinus or Ulmus) rich in epiphytes]
• the activities carried out by the IUCN (International Union for Nature Conservation) through the Fungal Conservation Committee, the Fungal Specialist Group and the Global Fungal Red List Initiative[7]
• the FFF – Fauna Flora Funga initiative[8] for the promotion of Fungi protection, which calls for the replacement of the phrases “Animals and Plants” and “Fauna and Flora” by “Animals, Fungi and Plants” and “Fauna, Flora and Funga”
• at European level the Council of EMA (European Mycological Association) called “European Council for the Conservation of Fungi (ECCF)[9]” that works for the conservation and knowledge of Fungi
• the letter published in Science by J. Sills “Include macrofungi in biodiversity targets“ [10]
• the open letter of the European Forest Institute (EFI) on 14 December 2022 on the crucial role of Fungi in the conservation and enhancement of biodiversity [11]
• the Italian Network for the study of mycological diversity (NMD) of ISPRA that started a national fungal census initiative and developed a Fungi Survey app and the Italian Fungi Information System[12].