Forgotten Fungi?

Headlines on a report from Kew Gardens, suggests that 40% of the World's plants are in immediate danger of extinction (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/sep/30/world-plant-species-risk-extinction-fungi-earth). The actual report talks about plants and fungi. These are, of course, actually separate Kingdoms of Eukaryotic (with their DNA in a defined nucleus) organisms. Human survival and the 'health' of the planet are certainly strongly linked to plants. They are major removers of atmospheric carbon dioxide by photosynthesis; supply many of our food substances (such as grains, fruits, nuts, pulses and leaves etc); feed many of our domesticated animals and supply materials (e.g. wood, rubber, matting, drugs and pigments etc) useful to people. Having said that, we have clearly not fully explored the possibilities available in the Plant Kingdom (and the dangers of relying on monocultures that are prone to disease are all too evident). Reducing the range and variety of species in which we can exploit (and we do exploit them!) seems to be a bad move. I am, however, more concerned about the Kingdom of Fungi being added to the list, as what appears to be an after-thought (are they regarded as 'only' another group of non-animal multicellular organisms?). Everyone is aware that some fungi (mushrooms and their relatives) are eaten. The general public, however, seems less knowledgable about their roles in brewing and production of some cheeses. They appear to know next to nothing about the Kingdom's important role in biogeochemical cycling. Fungi, are of fundamental importance in the recycling of dead organic matter. Some are also essential to plants needing to fix nitogen into their tissues. They are also components of lichens which are often the first colonisers of rocks. I think we should be, at least, as concerned about the loss of fungal species. This is all the more so because their disappearance will, in many cases, be less obvious to humans. We might ask, "Where have all the flowers gone?" but we rarely enquire "Where have all the hyphae gone?". They are simply not on the same visual 'radar'.