Introduction

Conservation of fungi, particularly populations of rare and endangered fungal species, is only possible when their habitats are protected. Consequently, efforts in fungal conservation will be successful only when cooperation with other environmentalists interested in nature conservation is established. Joint, well-motivated proposals to create new protected areas or to regulate a conservation regime in existing reserves will then accepted more easily than otherwise. The role of mycologists is not only to study the mycota of nature reserves, but also to take the initiative in creating new reserves.

Protection of primeval and old-growth forests

Primeval forests are very rare in Europe. Some kind of forest management has been practised almost everywhere except in those forest stands that are low in productivity and poor in species composition growing on oligotrophic Sphagnum bogs in northern areas. Seminatural old-growth forests with minimal human impact have survived mainly in nature reserves.

In Estonia, of the 138 hemerophobic vascular plant species found, 90 are growing only or mainly in forests (Kukk, 1999; Trass, Vellak & Ingerpuu, 1999); there are 79 hemerophobic bryophytes and 88 lichens in the Estonian forests. In the boreal zone, old unmanaged forest is the main refugium for rare and endangered species, including fungi. Protection of different forest site types is effective for conservation of species as well as of communities.

In the European Union, the main target of nature protection has been different groups of higher organisms (primarily birds) and a few selected habitat types (wetlands, Mediterranean communities).