Reviving Forest Biodiversity: Inoculation Offers Hope for Endangered Fungi
A new study highlights a promising method for helping endangered wood-inhabiting fungi recover in the boreal forests of the Nordic region. The technique, known as inoculation, involves introducing fungi into specific environments, in this case, pine logs, to support their growth and survival.
The historical impact of commercial forestry has led to overall decrease of old forests and fragmentation across other forests putting many wood-inhabiting fungal species at significant risk of extinction. Even when new protected areas are created, lost species often fail to return on their own – making restoration efforts like inoculation essential.
“As forestry management companies and organizations are looking for more ways to be biodiversity positive, fungal reintroductions are an exciting opportunity to start considering a crucial but historically more overlooked taxonomic group within conservation”, says Joette Crosier, Research Scientist from the Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke).
Inoculation can provide a new tool for supporting the recovery of endangered fungal species and preserving biodiversity in forests. The method complements traditional conservation strategies, such as protecting forest habitats, and may help offset the damage caused by traditional forest management practices. It can also play a role in bringing back species that have disappeared from protected areas.
The project has attracted notable interest from a broad range of stakeholders, underscoring its relevance and potential impact. Sveaskog, state-owned company and the largest forest owner in Sweden, has shown a strong commitment to the initiative, recognizing its value and actively considering its adoption as a practical tool in their future conservation strategies.
From experiments to forest restoration
Inoculation refers to the process of transferring or introducing microorganisms, such as bacteria, fungi, or viruses, into a specific environment. The purpose of inoculation is often to study the effects of microorganisms, promote their growth, or utilize them to solve specific problems, such as supporting the recovery of endangered fungal species in forests.
Researchers tested this method by inoculating pine logs with five red-listed fungal species. The results were encouraging: all five species successfully established themselves in at least some of the logs, with success rates ranging from 28% to 60%. The study also found that factors like certain log characteristics and the presence of other fungi influenced how well the inoculated species took hold. Long-term monitoring will be essential to determine whether these fungi can eventually produce fruiting bodies and sustain long-term populations.
To make this approach more scalable and effective, researchers at the Natural Resources Institute Finland are developing standardized best practices. These guidelines aim to support the wider and more effective use of inoculation in forests across the Nordic region.
The research was conducted as part of the Reintroduction of threatened wood-inhabiting fungi (RARE) -project which investigates novel approaches to the cultivation and reintroduction of rare and endangered fungi. The project is funded by Maj and Tor Nessling Foundation, Stiftelsen Skogssällskapet, Stora Enso AB and UPM.
