Zamorano University Professor Contributes to Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Global Report

Every few years, the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, in the United Kingdom, publishes a report summarizing the state of global knowledge on plants and fungi: their diversity, the threats they face, and the policies needed to protect them. The most recent edition, State of the World’s Plants and Fungi 2026, brings together the work of more than 400 scientists from over 170 institutions in 40 countries.

Dr. Eric van den Berghe, professor in Zamorano’s Department of Environment and Development Engineering, was among the experts who contributed to this report, positioning the institution within one of the largest international scientific collaborations on plant and fungal biodiversity. The report, titled “The Digital Biodiversity Revolution,” explores how digital tools are transforming our ability to understand and respond to the climate and biodiversity crises, and identifies the most urgent knowledge gaps for their protection. Dr. van den Berghe contributed to Chapter 8, “Safeguarding Nature with Accurate Data”, highlighting the importance of herbarium collections for conservation.

Being part of global efforts like this allows Zamorano to contribute directly to the generation of world-class scientific knowledge, while strengthening its presence and collaboration with leading institutions in botanical and environmental research.