Plants and fungi hold promise as future medicines, fuels and foods, according to the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, London UK.
Opportunities are however, being lost to use this “treasure chest of incredible diversity” as species vanish due to habitat destruction and climate change.
The assessment of the State of the World’s Plants and Fungi is based on research from more than 200 scientists in 42 countries.
The report was released on the day of a United Nations summit, which will press for action from world leaders to address biodiversity loss.
“It’s a very worrying picture of risk and urgent need for action,” he said.
Proffessor Antonelli stated, and also claimed “We’re losing the race against time because species are disappearing faster than we can find and name them. Many of them could hold important clues for solving some of the most pressing challenges of medicine and even perhaps of the emerging and current pandemics we are seeing today.”