Back to the cycle

Fungi promote the balance of an ecosystem, provide food for animals and humans, and form the cornerstone of biodiversity.

A large part of forest life happens underground. In fact, there would be no trees without other organisms. Mycorrhiza fungi live in symbiosis with trees, providing them with nutrients and better water intake in exchange for energy-containing carbon compounds. The forest’s carbon cycle consists of photosynthesis binding carbon dioxide from trees and the decomposition of living material. Fungi play an important role in this. Many fungi and polypore species live on dead wood, which is why decaying wood should also be left in felling areas to promote biodiversity. Some fungi species are also harmful to trees, and even though the exact cause of burls is not known, they may be the result of disturbances in growth caused by a fungus.