Biodiversity board warns against exploitation of wild mushrooms

Panaji: As the sale of wild mushrooms has begun in Goa with the arrival of the monsoon, the Goa State Biodiversity Board (GSBB) has warned against the overexploitation of these edible mushrooms, known locally as ‘roen olmi’.

The GSBB has appealed to Goans not to encourage the sale and consumption of these wild mushrooms and has said that locals should instead patronise the “much cheaper and nutritious button and oyster mushrooms” available in local markets.

The roen olmi is considered a delicacy locally. However, the GSBB began initiating awareness on the conservation of roen olmi from 2018, noting that the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, provides protection to natural species of wild mushrooms in wildlife sanctuaries.

Yet, these mushrooms are seen being plucked secretly by entering forests for sale and consumption.

“For thousands of years, forest dwellers conserved wild mushroom species. But in recent times, people started exploiting mushrooms, posing a threat to nature,” the GSBB has said. “The unethical approach of pluckers is degrading sensitive wild habitats, thus causing erosion of biodiversity. Scientists are researching mushroom species for new drugs/pharmaceuticals, but if wild species are destroyed in Goa, then nothing will be left for scientific research.”

The GSBB has also appealed to those involved in plucking and in the roadside sale of roen olmi to leave behind at least 50% of the young stages on the termite mounds for the conservation of their biodiversity.

It also asked owners of private forests to care for and conserve the roen olmi species.

“People must completely avoid plucking and bringing very small mushrooms for sale. Nobody should plunder rare smaller species found outside forest areas,” GSBB said.

It has added, “These include varieties known as khut or khutyaliolami, toshaliolami, sonyaliolami, and chonchyaliolami. People must not overexploit non-marketed smaller species of termitomyces, locally known as shiti, shitololami, found at the end of the monsoon.”