The future is fungi

 

Without fungi, the world as we know it would not exist. Humans have harnessed the molecular powers of fungi since the beginning of civilisation, turning wheat into bread and fruit into wine, and our lives are richer for it.

Modern-day privileges such as chocolate, penicillin and detergent depend on fungi for their production. And one particular potent group contains psychoactive compounds that can transform experiences of love, creativity and connection. We are also learning to use fungi to transform organic matter into diverse and radical solutions for today’s urgent ecological and social issues. 

Yet we know substantially less about fungi than we do about animals and plants. The kingdom Fungi classification was introduced in 1969 when ecologist Robert Harding Whittaker formalised the importance, scale and diversity of the group. 

Eastern barred bandicoot: how the little diggers rebounded
 

A couple of decades ago, many believed the eastern barred bandicoot had been completely wiped out on mainland Australia.

The discovery of a small population in western Victoria drastically changed the trajectory of the species. From that wild population, many hundreds have been bred in captivity and released into predator-free ecosystems, including Odonata’s keystone sanctuary, Mount Rothwell.

Thanks to the work of Odonata and their volunteers and partners, the bandicoot’s status was changed in 2021 in Victoria from extinct in the wild to endangered. Your donation will help efforts to breed and strengthen populations so more animals can be released into predator-free zones, and so that one day they can thrive beyond the fence once more.

By Justin Walker
 

This newsletter was curated and edited by Angela Heathcote, Senior Digital Producer Australian Geographic. Do you have a story idea? Let us know at [email protected]. Have a wonderful day!