The Department of Forests has urged the public to follow some basic rules when picking wild mushrooms, as the season begins, to avoid damaging the soil and the forest ecosystem.
Pickers should not use rakes, ‘combs’ or other tools, the department said. These disturb the soil and can damage the fungus, and they are banned under the Forest Law.
Mushrooms should be removed carefully, without damaging the soil or the area around them, and pickers should collect only species they are certain are edible.
The department also warned against digging or damaging the ground. Pickers should move the leaf litter aside gently, only as far as needed, and then put it back.
Leaf litter, the natural layer of fallen leaves, twigs and other organic material covering the forest floor, helps retain moisture, protects the soil and creates the right conditions for fungi and other organisms to grow, the department said. “Extensive and unnecessary removal of leaf litter can negatively affect the natural functioning of the forest,” it added.
It also advised pickers to choose mature mushrooms, which have largely completed their natural cycle and have helped release their spores.
