Jack A Gilbert, Amber Hartman Scholz, Maria Gloria Dominguez Bello, Lise Korsten, Gabriele Berg, Brajesh K Singh, Antje Boetius, Fengping Wang, Chris Greening, Kelly Wrighton, Seth R Bordenstein, Janet Jansson, Jay T Lennon, Valeria Souza, Sarah M Allard, Torsten Thomas, Don Cowan, Thomas W Crowther, Nguyen Nguyen, Lucy Harper, Louis-Patrick Haraoui, Suzanne L Ishaq, Margaret McFall-Ngai, Kent H Redford, Raquel Peixoto
As the first and dominant life forms on the planet, microorganisms underpin all ecological and organismal systems that drive planetary functioning, ecosystem health, and human wellbeing. Microbial communities are affected by anthropogenic pressures, and some microbial ecosystems may be at risk of permanent disruption, but microbiology remains conspicuously underrepresented in global conservation frameworks. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the Microbial Conservation Specialist Group (MCSG) of the International Union for Conservation of Nature, including its goals, operational framework, and broader relevance. The MCSG provides the first formal global structure dedicated to the assessment, monitoring, and protection of microbial life across ecosystems. We outline its core mission, strategic framework, and planned activities to integrate microbial conservation into international biodiversity agendas, One Health/planetary policies, and ecological restoration initiatives. We also make a call for all key stakeholders to get involved in this initiative; the microbial world is vast, and we need "all experts on deck" to drive effective solutions.