life sciences This list of life sciences comprises the branches of science that involve the scientific study of life – such as microorganisms, plants, and animals including human beings. This science is one of the two major branches of natural science, th ...

''funga'' is a recent term for the kingdom

fungi A fungus (plural, : fungi or funguses) is any member of the group of Eukaryote, eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and Mold (fungus), molds, as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified ...

similar to the longstanding

fauna Fauna is all of the animal life present in a particular region or time. The corresponding term for plants is ''flora'', and for fungi, it is '' funga''. Flora, fauna, funga and other forms of life are collectively referred to as ''biota''. Zoo ...

for animals and

flora Flora (: floras or florae) is all the plant life present in a particular region or time, generally the naturally occurring (indigenous (ecology), indigenous) native plant, native plants. The corresponding term for animals is ''fauna'', and for f ...

for plants. The term was considered to be urgently needed in order to simplify projects oriented toward implementation of educational and conservation goals. An informal meeting held during the IX Congreso Latinoamericano de Micología resulted in a proposal for the term in 2018; alternative terms were also proposed and discussed. ''Funga'' was recommended by the IUCN in 2021. The term highlights parallel terminology referring to treatments of these macroorganisms of particular geographical areas. The Species Survival Commission (SSC) of the

International Union for Conservation of Nature The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN; officially International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources) is an international organization working in the field of nature conservation and sustainable use of natur ...

(IUCN) in August 2021 called for the recognition of fungi as one of three kingdoms of life, and critical to protecting and restoring Earth. They ask that the phrase ''animals and plants'' be replaced by ''animals, fungi, and plants'', and ''fauna and flora'' by ''fauna, flora, and funga''. The term ''funga'' had been used in the scientific literature before the later recommendation.

References

Life sciences Fungi {{Fungus-stub