26/12/2025
To Post or Not to Post? Why Fungi iNaturalist Locations Matter
In the wake of recent headlines, some people are wondering—should we still share exact locations of fungi sightings online? At Fungimap, we say yes—with care, context, and confidence.
Fungi are some of the most extraordinary organisms on the planet—playing vital roles in ecosystems as recyclers, networkers, and even climate allies. Yet they remain among the least studied and most underappreciated life forms in Australia. Of the 250,000 species scientists believe exist in Australia, only 5% have been named.
Yet their existence is crucial to the life of our planet and our own lives. That’s where citizen scientists come in.
Thanks to thousands of observations shared via platforms like iNaturalist, Australia is building a picture of its fungal biodiversity—what species live where, how distributions are changing, and which fungi might be under threat. This data has already helped list 15 native fungi species on the global IUCN Red List and continues to inform science, conservation, and policy.
Yes, there has been recent public concern about pinpointing the exact locations of toxic species, such as Amanita phalloides (the introduced and deadly Death Cap mushroom). We understand the concern, but we believe it shouldn’t overshadow the remarkable contributions made by the citizen science community.
Fungimap will continue to use iNaturalist and strongly encourages others to do the same. Precise location data is essential for tracking the spread of both native and introduced fungi. However, if you feel uncertain, iNaturalist gives you the option to obscure the location of your observation—especially useful for rare or sensitive species, or if you're simply unsure.
Importantly, even if you choose to obscure a location, your data still counts. All Research Grade observations—obscured or not—are sent to the Atlas of Living Australia, where they contribute to a national open-source biodiversity database used by researchers, land managers, and conservationists.
We’d also like to remind everyone that Fungimap does not promote the collecting of fungi. In most states and territories, you need a permit to collect fungi on public land and permission from the landholder on private land.
Keep Sharing, Keep Caring
We know fungi have recently been used for unfortunate reasons. But this is also an opportunity—a chance to remind people that fungi are not just fascinating and beautiful, they are essential. And they need our attention, our curiosity, and our care.
So, to all the citizen scientists out there: thank you. Keep spotting. Keep posting. And keep shining a light on the hidden world beneath our feet.
For more information, visit fungimap.org.au
Amanita phalloides Photograph by Stephen Axford, Planet Fungi
