Red Lists

Red Lists are inventories of conservation status.

There are nine categories in the IUCN Red List system: Extinct, Extinct in the Wild, Critically Endangered, Endangered, Vulnerable, Near Threatened, Least Concern, Data Deficient, and Not Evaluated).

The IUCN website provides an explanation of IUCN Redlist Categories and Criteria

There is a global IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The 2006 edition of the IUCN Red List includes only three species of fungi. These are the lichenised fungi (lichens): Cladonia perforata and Erioderma pedicellatum, and also the mushroom Pleurotus nebrodensis, which was newly included in the 2006 edition.

Worldwide most fungi fall at present into the IUCN Data Deficient or Not Evaluated categories and numerous fungi are yet to be formally described.

Red Lists for fungi are available for some countries. A list is in preparation. In the meantime, the European Council for the Conservation of Fungi provides useful links to Fungi Red Lists for various European countries.

As part of the Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan for Fungi currently in preparation, detailed guidelines for fungi Red Lists will be drawn up.