Nourou Yorou

Red List of Threatened Larger Fungi and Conservation of their Habitats in Benin

Cantharellus conspicuus (Gallery forest of Bassila, Benin, July 2004).

The fungus/plant ratio of 6/1 provides a conservative estimate of 18000 fungal species for Benin (its vascular plant richness is about 3000 species). Higher fungi, (accounting for about 20% of the total fungal diversity) are unevenly distributed in Benin. Most useful species occur in large areas that are however subjected to unrestrained deforestation. Many other species occur as “Meta-population” in very small and fragmented habitats.

In this project, the team attempts to provide national forestry services with sound species- and habitat-based conservation plans, which will includes the identification of fungal hotspots and the elaboration of a Red List of endangered fungi. This project is a part of a broader one, aiming at the elaboration of Red List of Threatened species (plants, animal, fungi…) that the Benin-IUCN group recently committed itself to undertake. The Red List of threatened species of Benin will provide the Benin-IUCN group, the Benin CBD (Convention on Biological Diversity) and national forestry services with basic tools and key information to define conservation policies.

Since 1997, we undertook over 10 collecting trips in different vegetation types of Benin. These collecting trips yielded over 2000 fungal collections. Based on collection data from these previous monitoring surveys, the frequency and distribution of each fungal species will be analysed. This step will help to sort rare species. In the scope of the present project, the number of localities as defined by IUCN (2001) and the habitat quality/threats will be recorded for each target rare species during additional collecting trips. The occurrence and the effective occupied area of each species will be tracked using a Global Positioning System (GPS).

Quantitative data such as the number of localities, the size and dynamics of occupied areas of each species will be assessed and compared with criteria B, D2 and A1c of IUCN (2001) in order to assign species to different threat categories. Such quantitative data will be used by national foresters and conservationists as baseline indicators to better shape habitat dynamics of fungal populations and to estimate future trends. For forest project leaders, they will serve as tools for self-evaluation and for testing/adjusting their conservation actions. Posters on threatened fungi, their distribution areas coupled with conservation advices will be issued and distributed in schools, at the universities, in forest administrations/services, in villages surrounding the habitats of species in order to ensure awareness raising among decision makers, projects leaders, students, teachers, tourists and local inhabitants.

For more information contact n.s.yorou@gmail.com