MyTIPS at COP16: Fungal Conservation on the Global Stage

From October 20 to 31, 2024, MyTIPS, led by Prof. Nourou S. Yorou, actively participated in the 16th Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) held in Cali, Colombia. The COP meetings serve as platforms for stakeholders to exchange updates on progress in biodiversity documentation and conservation efforts. COP16, with a total of 20,000 participants, was particularly significant as it focused on reviewing the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

Prof. Yorou’s participation as a mycologist at such a high-level diplomatic and political forum is a first, not only for the Beninese delegation but in the history of COPs. It is well-known that fungi were overlooked at the original CBD meeting in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. However, for the past two decades, efforts have been underway to raise awareness among the public, conservators, and policymakers about the urgent need to protect fungi, which play crucial roles both upstream and downstream in trophic chains.

Prof. Yorou’s involvement aimed to bring the voice of fungi to the biodiversity conservation table, while also urging global conservation bodies to take more inclusive actions for fungi. Numerous exchanges and sessions, coordinated by Prof. Yorou, facilitated the sharing of Benin’s experiences in fungal conservation through the « Fungal Conservation in Sub-Saharan Africa » project. Attached are some images from the event, and an audio element can be accessed through the link provided.

MyTIPS continues to push the boundaries of fungal ignorance, harnessing the power of collective effort and advancing research on fungi to maximize their utility in biodiversity conservation