Team Goemkarponn
Panaji: The Goa State Biodiversity Board (GSBB) has issued a public advisory urging caution in the harvesting and consumption of wild mushrooms, particularly the locally cherished Roen Alami, which grows naturally on termite mounds during the monsoon. The board has raised serious concerns over the rampant and unsustainable foraging practices that are threatening the region’s delicate ecological balance.
Traditionally considered a monsoon delicacy in Goa, Roen Alami mushrooms have seen a surge in demand, leading to their overexploitation. According to the GSBB, indiscriminate harvesting—often involving the complete uprooting of the mushroom colonies—is disrupting the reproductive cycle of these fungi and depleting the termite mound ecosystems that support them.
In its advisory, the GSBB has recommended that foragers adopt responsible collection methods, including leaving behind at least 50% of young mushrooms on each mound. “This will help the mushrooms regenerate naturally and maintain the food web and biodiversity supported by termite mounds,” the statement reads.
The board also cautioned the public against consuming unidentified wild mushrooms due to the risk of poisoning. In recent years, several cases of mushroom poisoning have been reported in Goa, as toxic varieties are often mistaken for edible ones.
Instead, the GSBB has encouraged Goans to opt for commercially cultivated varieties like button and oyster mushrooms, which are widely available in the market and pose no environmental or health risks.
“Conservation of local biodiversity is not just the responsibility of the authorities but also of the people. We appeal to citizens to practice restraint and responsibility during mushroom foraging season,” said a senior GSBB official.
The board is also planning awareness campaigns in rural and forest-fringe areas, where mushroom hunting is most prevalent, to promote sustainable harvesting and environmental stewardship.
