Reports

Report: The International Association for Lichenology (IAL) Business Meeting, Asilomar, Monterray, California, 17 July 2008, passed the following resolution.

Report: The AmericanAcademy of Microbiology has released its newest colloquium report, "The Fungal Kingdom: Diverse and Essential Roles in Earth's Ecosystem."

The International Mycological Congresses Here, we present information, brief reports and/or web links if they exist to the past seven IMCs. For the IMC8 proceedings and programme, Click here Congress Handbook & Abstracts Book 1 (pdf) Congress Handbook & Abstracts Book 2 (pdf) Images from IMC8, August 2006, Cairns, Australia Co
MC7 The 7th International Mycological Congress, IMC7, was held in Oslo Norway, August 2002. For the IMC7 Book of Abstracts, please click here. For the IMC7 list of participants, please click here.

Monitoring and safeguarding fungal resources worldwide: the need for an international collaborative MycoAction Plan
By David L. Hawksworth Honorary President, International Mycological Association

The challenge of monitoring and safeguarding the Earth´s fungal resources is a daunting one that must be confronted. With only 74-120 K of the estimated 1.5 million fungal species on the planet described and limited human and financial resources, how can we identify priority areas for both systematic research and conservation? Further, what balance should be aspired to between in situ and ex situ conservation, and how should that be reflected in national and international policy? Mycology has too low a profile and remains an orphan within botany and microbiology; how can that perception be changed? The systems in place for educating new generations of mycologists are also failing; how can that be rectified? While contact between mycologists nationally, regionally, and globally has improved remarkably in the last two decades, concerted action on a scale hitherto not attempted is necessary to address these fundamental questions. Some actions for inclusion in a potential new international initiative designed to start to redress some of these key issues are suggested. The proposals include actions needed to be taken by individuals through to ones meriting coverage in international intergovernmental treaties: and be accompanied by targets and datelines. This contribution is intended to serve as a draft action plan (MycoAction Plan) for discussion, elaboration, and revision by the whole mycological community - working under the auspices of the International Mycological Association (IMA). It is envisioned that there will be plans for action from the worldwide (MycoAction Worldwide Plan) to the personal (MycoAction Personal Plan).

Monitoring and safeguarding fungal resources worldwide: the need for an international collaborative MycoAction Plan. Details: click here.

Constitution of the European Mycological Association 1

Constitution of the European Mycological Association 2

Report from the Icelandic Institute of Natural History