The current checklist of lichens and lichenicolous fungi of Chile was published over 20 years ago. This checklist, with ca. 1400 species, is the cornerstone of Chilean lichenological knowledge, but an update is in strong need. The current version of the checklist includes ~2160 species. A database generated to build the checklist includes georeferenced data for over 35000 specimens, allowing us to model current and future distributional richness patterns and areas of endemism for the Chilean lichen biota in different climate change scenarios, as well as to determine underrepresented areas, using stacked species distribution models and macroecological modelling. Our results show that both modelling strategies are somewhat correlated, showing the need for an increased number of observations and attempts to reduce sampling bias from easily accessible sites, as both show medium to high correlation to current observed richness. Mediterranean areas of central Chile are highly diverse, including the coastal areas of northern Chile and the transitional areas to the south of the Atacama Desert, the isolated temperate hyperoceanic areas of the Aisén region and the boreal areas in southernmost Chile. Future projections show an expansion of current highly diverse areas, with a southward movement of Mediterranean diversity in accordance with the advancement of the aridification of this biome, with a high turnover ratio, next to a decrease in species richness in northernmost Chile. Southern Chile shows an important increase in species richness, which could be an overprediction in currently under sampled areas. Endemism is higher in northern Chile, with a large number of highly isolated species, parts of central Chile, as well as the temperate hyperoceanic areas of southern Chile. Funding: Ministerio del Medio Ambiente 608897-25-LE19.
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