Description:Species of fungi are not immune to the threats that put species of animals and plants at risk: habitat loss loss of symbiotic hosts pollution over exploitation and climate. Because resources financial and human will always be limited determining which species are thriving and which are rare or declining is crucial for targeting conservation action towards species in greatest need. Assessing the conservation status of a species (bird plant or fungus) requires some minimal data including information on its distribution population size and trend and information on why it might be in decline. Much of the data needed are observational – what occurs where and when and are these patterns changing. This is where amateur mycologists / community scientists can and need to help. Several initiatives across the globe including FungiMap in Australia The Lost and Found Initiative in the UK and The Fungal Diversity Survey (FunDiS) in the US are developing tools and providing incentives and coordination to engage community scientists in generating data needed for conservation assessments and to advocate for conservation action. About Greg Mueller:Greg Mueller is Chief Scientist and V.P. of Science the Chicago Botanic Garden. His research focuses on the evolution ecology and conservation of fungi especially mushrooms. Greg has carried out fieldwork throughout the world with a focus on the Americas China and Australasia. He has authored six books/book length volumes and more than 100 journal articles. He is past president of the Mycological Society of America and was recently named a Distinguished Mycologist by the Society. Greg is active in international fungal conservation efforts chairing both the IUCN Fungal Conservation Committee and Specialist Group on mushrooms brackets and puffballs and with a colleague coordinates the Global Fungal Red List Initiative. He is a board member of FunDiS (Fungal Diversity Survey) and has adjunct appointments at the University of Chicago and an adjunct professor at University of Illinois at Chicago and Northwestern University.