SEMINAR – Russula Roulette
Every mushroomer knows the danger of not being able to differentiate edible mushrooms from toxic lookalike species. In Switzerland, the Pilzkontrolleure, or mushroom inspectors have been saving lives for over a century by plucking poisonous mushrooms from people’s baskets and sending them home with the edible fare. Despite being tinier than Tassie, Switzerland has 409 mushroom inspection offices staffed by 1500 inspectors.
Furthermore, a publicly accessible online atlas of fungus distribution (including 937 endangered species) helps foragers find their target mushrooms. The Swiss are well versed in fungi and foraging and this has also stimulated mycological research and resources.
Yet in Australia, all biodiversity – including fungi – is protected at all three levels of government and hence foraging is illegal on public land.
Over the last couple of decades Alison has divided her time between hemispheres working both with fungi and their followers. In this talk Alison will explore the tensions between foraging and conservation and the different approaches of various nations to both protect species and keep hunters happy.
This talk is part of the Moorabool Mushroom Festival 2024.
Further workshops can be viewed at this link.