Oregon’s Willamette Valley is a major hotspot for webs of mycorrhizal, or network-forming, fungi. These fungal networks help promote soil health and plant growth by moving nutrients between plants and soil. Researchers at the Society for the Protection of Underground Networks (SPUN) predict that nearly 90% of mycorrhizal networks around the world lie outside of protected areas, including those in the Pacific Northwest.

Scientists at SPUN say that this hidden, vital component of land-based ecosystems deserves more protection. But protection for these networks is different from typical land protection, since these fungal species are present in much of the soil in the U.S. Researchers say it’s important to find ways to protect this diverse fungi without keeping humans out of these areas entirely.

Kylie Mohr, a reporter with High Country News, wrote about the presence of these fungal networks in the West, and spoke with several experts who are imagining and calling for ways to preserve them. She joins us to break down the details.

“Think Out Loud®” broadcasts live at noon every day and rebroadcasts at 8 p.m.

If you’d like to comment on any of the topics in this show or suggest a topic of your own, please get in touch with us on Facebook, send an email to [email protected], or you can leave a voicemail for us at 503-293-1983.

News Source : https://www.opb.org/article/2026/04/30/think-out-loud-fungi-network-research-protection/