Scientists and citizen researchers gathered in California’s Napa County in early 2026 to search for the elusive Manzanita butter clump, a rare yellow mushroom found only along parts of North America’s western coastline. The search, organized by fungal researchers and conservation groups, reflects growing attention to fungi and the urgent need for their conservation. Researchers say fungi are among the least understood life forms despite playing a critical role in maintaining global biodiversity. During the expedition, scientists instead documented numerous lichens—organisms formed by partnerships between fungi and algae—highlighting the remarkable diversity of fungi that often goes unnoticed in forest landscapes.

Researchers explain that fungi are vital components of natural ecosystems, helping forests recycle nutrients and supporting countless plant and animal species. Yet scientists have formally identified only about 155,000 fungal species, a small portion of the estimated 2.5 million believed to exist worldwide. Efforts to understand this vast kingdom increasingly rely on citizen science initiatives, including photography platforms where volunteers upload observations that scientists can analyze. Conservationists warn that pollution, climate change, habitat loss, and overharvesting threaten many fungal species. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, hundreds of fungi already face extinction risks. Researchers emphasize that documenting species is the first step toward protecting them, even if field searches sometimes end without locating the original target species.