AI, Trees, and Fungi: A New Blueprint for Global Conservation

How Artificial Intelligence and Nature’s Mycelial Networks Can Restore Ecosystems and Achieve Global Conservation Goals

Beneath the forest floor lies an intricate web of life, a hidden network that bridges the seen and unseen. This vast mycelial network, formed by fungi, connects tree roots, enabling them to share nutrients, exchange signals, and support one another’s survival. Often called the “Wood Wide Web,” this system is nature’s original communication network — a marvel of collaboration and resilience that has sustained ecosystems for millions of years.

This underground network doesn’t just nurture trees; it is the foundation of entire ecosystems. Mycorrhizal fungi, as these fungi are known, form symbiotic relationships with tree roots, trading nutrients from the soil for sugars produced by photosynthesis. Trees can send resources to struggling neighbors through these connections or fortify their defenses against pests. It’s a natural masterpiece of cooperation, reminding us that survival is rarely solitary.

But today, this ancient system is under threat. Deforestation, habitat destruction, and climate change are severing these vital connections. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization, we lose…