Welcome to the home page of The Lost and Found Fungi in MENA running by Mycology Club at the University of Suez Canal (MCUSC) and Arab Society for Fungal Conservation (ASFC).
Mycology Club at the University of Suez Canal
Mycology Club at the University of Suez Canal (MCUSC) founded in 2015 as a registered student organization at the USC, Faculty of Science, Botany Department dedicated to bringing students, faculty and community members with an interest in mycology together to discuss and learn about fungi and fungal conservation. We host seminars and discussions on current mycological research, run Mushroom Production Unit housed on the Botany Department, and organize mushroom forays in Egypt to teach members about field identification of fungi. In addition to print out brochures and flyers concerning basis of fungal conservation, criteria of red-listing..etc. Until now there appears to have been a lack of interest in educating the general public on the importance of fungi. The study of fungi is rarely touched upon in schools and faculties, possibly because the educators and professors themselves have a limited knowledge of fungi. Through this group and in collaboration with other organisations either local or international we encouraged the different departments in USC to get the study of fungi on the curricula. If not, we established an alternative method of making young people aware of the importance of fungi even if it means doing this outside the course curriculum if necessary. Monthly lectures have commenced, to educate, raise awareness and generate interest in different localities in Egypt. Workshops and forays have been held in the last three years and these will continue.Arab Society for fungal Conservation
ASCF decreed by No. 699/2013 as a scientific and cultural society aims to promote, protect and develop ecosystems & wildlife habitats and its biotic components especially fungi. ASFC aims to raise awareness on the importance of fungal conservation and access to more economic sustainable methods harmonious with nature and human life in the Arab world.
Why fungi are important? The fungi are a huge assemblage of organisms. Best current estimates suggest there are around 1.5 million species worldwide, of which only about 5% have so far been discovered. That means around 95% are still unknown. Fungi comprise one of the great kingdoms of biology - the others include the animals, bacteria, plants and protozoa. Fungi are totally different from all of those. They are found in all main freshwater, marine and terrestrial ecosystems. The most obvious impacts fungi have on human life are as foodstuffs (for example yeast, which is a fungus, is essential for making bread and alcoholic drinks), antibiotics (penicillin, for example, is a fungal product), and through diseases of crops and domesticated animals. But their real impact, although less obvious, is actually much greater. They are phenomenally important, providing key ecosystem services, for example as recyclers of nutrients, and without fungi life on this planet could not be sustained.
Fungal conservation:Although the wellbeing of fungi is essential for life on this planet, amazingly, up to now, they have been almost totally overlooked by all mainstream conservation movements. But the fungi have no special features which protect them from destructive human activity. Like animals and plants, they too are endangered by climate change, habitat destruction and pollution. They too need their champions to protect them. The Arab Society for Fungal Conservation, which was established specifically for that purpose, is the first society in the Arab world explicitly devoted to conserving fungi.
Address: Botany Department, Faculty of Science, Suez Canal University, Ismailia 41522, Egypt.
Vision: Mycology Club at the University of Suez Canal is a platform for learning, teaching and celebrating fungal biology. Our aim is to unify the diversity of fungal knowledge around the campus and community through educational lectures, hands-on workshops, outreach and forays.
Mission: Our mission is to raise awareness around the importance of mushrooms and other fungi for increasing the health of humans and the environment in the Arab world.
Membership of the Club is open to individuals and organizations sympathetic to the Club's aims. For further information about the club, particularly if you are interested in becoming a Member, please contact hebahassan350@yahoo.com attached with Curriculum vitae and copy of ID national card or passport.
Governance
ASFC is directed by the Board of Directors, all of whom are volunteers elected by a General Assembly of founding members. Board meetings are held on a monthly basis, and the approval of a majority of the Board is required for all major policy decisions. The Chairperson of ASFC is also elected by the Board. The General Assembly supervises the activities of the Board, and the Ministry of Social Affairs monitors the organization as a whole. The Ministry reviews ASFC’s accounts and conducts regular audits.A new board of directors will be selected soon in the coming weeks during the annual general assembly meeting.
Membership
Download Membership form in EnglishCopyright © 2014 - Fungi of Egypt | Sponsored by Mohamed bin-Zayed Species Conservation Fund
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