We’re thrilled to share a landmark study published in Science by MiCRop consortium members Justin Stewart, Malin Klein, Vasilis Kokkoris, James Weedon and Toby Kiers: the first global map of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal networks. A mostly unknown, hidden but vital circulatory system for our planet.

They found that these networks span 110 quadrillion kilometers, nearly a billion (!) times the distance from the earth to the sun. These fungi became so extremely abundant by forming symbiotic relationships with 70% of all existing plant species. These plants rely on AM fungi for their health since the fungi trade nutrients in exchange for the plant’s carbon. In this process AM fungi transport over four billion tons of CO2 into soils annually (equivalent to 11% of human-related emissions).

Because of all these reasons, they are essential to our planet’s health. Sadly, a lot of their biodiversity hotspots remain unprotected. For example, grasslands alone are home to 40% of earth’s AM fungal infrastructure, yet are among the least protected ecosystems.

In fact, 95% of all AM fungal biodiversity hotspots are outside of protected areas. On top of that, our growing expanses of farmland are shown to house 50% lower densities of these life-giving fungi. Which raises concerns about soil health and carbon storage ability.

This research hopefully makes people rethink which and how much of our world’s ecosystems we protect. It shifts our focus on protecting mainly aboveground life, to incorporating our invisible, but essential underground life as well in global conservation efforts.

In the words of Toby Kiers: “fungi have been ignored in climate and conservation efforts for too long. Now is the time to change that trajectory.”

Read the full Science publication here

And explore the maps here