Prof Yash of JU delivers a talk on International Mountain Day 2023 hosted by the IUCN CEM South Asia

IUCN Commission on Ecological Management (CEM) South Asia today organized a talk by Prof Yash Pal Sharma, Department of Botany, University of Jammu (J&K), India on the topic “In Service of Humans and Vegetation: Wild Mushrooms of North West Himalaya of Jammu & Kashmir, and Ladakh” to observe the International Mountain Day 2023 falling on December 11, 2023.

Speaking to a global assembly of panelists and attendees online, Prof. Sharma emphasised the importance of mountain ecosystems, explaining that the "Water Towers" supply 60–80% of the freshwater resources on Earth and that at least half of humanity depends on the services provided by mountain ecosystems to survive on clean energy, food, and water. The knowledgeable speaker stated that up to six crop species with mountain origins—maize, potatoes, barley, sorghum, tomatoes, and apples—provide 80% of the world's food. This region is home to abundant biodiversity. But he cautioned that there is pressure on mountains and mountain communities worldwide for both natural and man-made reasons, which is why the United Nations has designated this year's International Mountain Day with the theme "Restoring Mountain Ecosystems."

Speaking of the several new species of mushrooms that his research team has found in the Jammu & Kashmir, and Ladakh Himalayas, Prof. Yash said that the dynamic mountain environments are home to an amazing diversity of mushrooms that are essential to the health of the soil, the cycling of nutrients, and the general well-being of the flora and fauna in the mountains. More significantly, a range of palatable mushrooms such as morels, Geopora, chanterelles, Rhizopogon, Ramaria, Sparassis, etc., flourishing in these environments are exceedingly nourishing, offering proteins, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants to benefit the mountain communities and contribute substantially for food security.

While concluding his address, Prof Sharma urged that in view of some recent reports on the rapid rate of plant and fungal species decline worldwide, policymakers and conservation organizations should include fungi in their goals for global biodiversity conservation and to designate the upcoming decade as the decade of fungal diversity, just as they have done for plants and animals.

Dr. Deepu Sivadas, Regional Chair for South Asia, IUCN Commission on Ecological Management, led the session's proceedings, which were planned by Dr. Shalini Dhyani, Principal Scientist, NEERI, Nagpur and Vice Chair for Asia and SC member, IUCN CEM.