A collaborative effort in Benin Led by the University of Parakou in Benin, a team of scientists and community leaders are working on this important project that began in 2023. The project has been awarded funding by the Darwin Initiative, a UK government grants scheme that helps conserve biodiversity and support the communities that live alongside it through locally led projects worldwide. This project aims to include fungi in biodiversity policies and conservation efforts and to find solutions for fungal conservation in Africa with sustainability and livelihood implications. The project highlights the overlooked importance of fungi in ecosystems and the growing movement for their conservation. The Permaculture Association, a UK partner in this project, plays a crucial role by providing practical expertise to promote regenerative agriculture and food forests. Our holistic approach supports indigenous social and cultural values, community self-empowerment, gender equity, and stewardship of local ecosystems. This all is considered as in situ conservation of biodiversity in general and fungi in particular. Alongside this collaborative village action comes education aimed at drawing attention to two important issues: first, that native mycorrhizal fungi and the woodlands in which they grow are precious resources that need to be preserved; and second, that exotic tree plantations, where native fungi do not form associations, are more suitable sources of wood and charcoal. In the long run, Miombo woodland will regrow when young mycorrhizal trees are successfully transplanted. Meanwhile, making a good use of land - while woodlands re-generate, becomes crucial to livelihood. It takes a comprehensive design philosophy to build sustainable human homes and food systems by studying the patterns of natural ecosystems. In order to promote regenerative agriculture and food forests - a comprehensive strategy that supports Indigenous social and cultural values, community self-empowerment, gender parity, and a sense of stewardship of local ecosystems - practical expertise from the Permaculture Association, the UK partner, is provided. The project ends in March 2026, and the impact of such an approach in conservation will be measured and published. The Permaculture Association is represented in this project by Gihan Soliman. More details about this project are available on the Darwin Initiative website Copied to clipboard