02/07/2024
The mushroom picking season has begun again this year, with the Provincial Police and the Forestry Area of the Union of Mountain Municipalities of the Pistoia Apennines jointly engaged in control services to ensure compliance with the regulations and safeguard the forest and its products. The renewed collaboration between the two bodies, signed with a Memorandum of Understanding in February of this year, will allow for more careful surveillance in the collection of undergrowth products.
To collect mushrooms throughout the Tuscan territory, it is necessary to obtain an authorization by paying the fee required by the Tuscany Region, the payment methods of which can be found on the institutional website. It is recalled that those who want to collect spontaneous epigeal mushrooms, only in the territory of the Municipality of residence, are not required to obtain any authorization.
The daily collection limit per person is three kilograms per person, except in the case of a single specimen or several congrown specimens of a greater weight; the daily limit increases to ten kilograms per person only in the case in which residents in the territories classified as mountainous in Tuscany carry out the collection in their municipality of residence.
The collection of the good egg is prohibited when the gills are not visible. It is also prohibited to collect specimens of the following species, if the size of the cap is less than:
• four centimetres for the Boletus genus, Edules section (porcini mushrooms);
• two centimeters for the Hygrophorus marzuolus (dormant) and for the Lyophyllum gambosum (thorn).
Some municipalities in the Province of Pistoia, for reasons of ecosystem protection, have applied limitations on mushroom picking.
The Municipalities of Abetone-Cutigliano, San Marcello-Piteglio, Sambuca Pistoiese, Marliana, Pistoia and Pescia, in the period between 30 June and 31 October 2024, provide for:
• THE ABSOLUTE BAN on mushroom picking on FRIDAY;
• THE BAN on mushroom picking IS LIMITED TO NON-RESIDENTS ONLY on TUESDAYS.
The harvest can be done from one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset. In the harvest, tools that damage the mycelium, the surface layer of the soil and the root systems of the vegetation (rakes) must not be used. The mushrooms must be placed in rigid and ventilated containers, suitable for spreading the spores. The use of plastic bags is prohibited.
It is also recalled that it is advisable to wear clothing suitable for the activity of collecting undergrowth products and pay attention to weather conditions. Knowledge of the territory and general caution are required in order to avoid the occurrence of unpleasant accidents.
The Provincial Police of Pistoia remains at the disposal of the Citizens for all the necessary information at the following numbers: 0573374600 and [email protected]
Leonardo Cecconi
