New Zealand is a global hotspot for lichen biodiversity, containing approximately 10% of the world’s currently described lichen species in only 0.18% of the global land area. At present there are more than 2030 lichen species known in New Zealand (almost as many as indigenous vascular plant species), with many more species still to be discovered and formally described. At present there is a critical lack of basic information on the distribution, abundance, and habitat associations of New Zealand lichens, and 55% of the species (1108 species) are currently classified as ‘Data Deficient’ by the New Zealand threat classification system, as there is not enough information to assess their conservation status (see https://www.doc.govt.nz/globalassets/documents/science-and-technical/nztcs27entire.pdf). There is also a critical lack of lichenologists in New Zealand, with only a handful of dedicated people working part-time or on a voluntary basis to address some of the knowledge gaps for our diverse and fascinating lichen flora. We will provide an overview of New Zealand’s lichen biodiversity and current work being undertaken to understand more about the ecology, conservation status, and taxonomic relationships of New Zealand lichens.
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