Activities

From August 25 to 29, 2025, the Fungal Conservation in Sub-Saharan Africa (FC-SSA) project team, together with local beneficiary communities, carried out a large-scale forest reforestation activity. The initiative took place in the community forests of Fouctoume, Kopeinko, and Koubirgou, where the strong involvement of women was particularly remarkable. During this activity, 1,327 Afzelia seedlings, produced by the communities themselves, were successfully transplanted. This follows a previous restoration effort in June 2025 in the community forests of Koka and Aboldé, which led to the transplantation of 1,200 seedlings. Together, these efforts reflect the core objectives of the FC-SSA project: to restore community forests with 3,000 ectomycorrhizal tree species in close collaboration with local communities, strengthening both biodiversity conservation and sustainable livelihoods.

From December 26 to 28, 2024, we participated in a workshop focused on formulating national objectives and defining monitoring indicators as part of the revision of Benin’s National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP), in line with the new Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. The event took place at the Technical Directorate of the National Wood Corporation in Bohicon, gathering representatives from the Departments of Water, Forests, and Hunting, the National Agricultural Research Institute of Benin (INRAB), leaders of non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and mycology researchers, including our team. Our contribution marked a historic milestone: for the first time, a national objective specifically focused on mushroom conservation was included. The objective is to preserve and promote fungal diversity while enhancing their ecological role, ensuring their sustainable use, and protecting their habitats. To monitor the successful implementation of this objective, we defined key indicators, including: – Funding for research and technological advancements in mycology, – The establishment of mushroom conservation sites, – The promotion of traditional knowledge related to fungi. This significant step contributes to the broader global biodiversity efforts and highlights the importance of fungi in sustaining ecological balance.

On April 5th, 2024, the University of Parakou hosted the launch of the book « Champignons comestibles d’Afrique de l’Ouest », a collaborative effort between the Meise Botanical Garden and the MyTIPS research unit. This nine-chapter work comprehensively explores aspects of West African mycology, ranging from the climates influencing fungal diversity to the illustrated descriptions of edible species, including their cultivation, valorization, and identification. Its publication serves as a further step in the ongoing initiatives focused on conserving the rich fungal biodiversity in sub-Saharan Africa, of « Fungal Conservation in Sub-Saharan Africa » Project.