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Written question asked by Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (Green Party) on Monday, 23 February 2026, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Monday, 9 March 2026. It was answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock (Labour) on Monday, 9 March 2026 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Fungi: Conservation

Question

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer from Baroness Hayman of Ullock on 26 November 2025 (HL11789), what steps they have taken to communicate the ambition of the International Fungal Conservation Pledge and ensure national alignment with the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs' national team, the Joint Nature Conservation Committee and devolved government agencies.

Answer

Further to those actions set out in our response to PQ UIN HL11789, in September 2025 Defra participated in the launch of the UK Network for Fungal Conservation. The network, which currently includes Defra, NE, JNCC, NIEA and DAERA membership, brings together representatives from statutory bodies, research institutes, conservation NGOs and other fungal conservation professionals to work on fungal conservation across the UK. During the first quarter of 2026, the network will work on a collaborative new strategy and delivery plan for fungal conservation in the UK, enabling its integration with the new global strategy for fungal conservation.

Additionally, and in line with the UK’s commitment to the International Fungal Conservation Pledge, the UK led a proposal at CoP20 (December 2025) to develop a programme of work on how CITES should be applied to fungi in practice. This proposal was adopted by the Parties.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
HL14652
Session
2024-26
Related items
Fungi: Conservation
Wednesday, 26 November 2025
Written questions
House of Lords
Subjects
Conservation Devolution International cooperation Fungi
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk