British Columbia says it is not ruling out regulating wild mushroom picking after an Indigenous community said a rising number of foragers are infringing on its land, with one case involving alleged threats of physical violence and intimidation.
The provincial response comes after the Skwlax te Secwepemculecw First Nation said the areas devastated by the Lower East Adams Lake and Bush Creek wildfires last year are now sprouting large numbers of morel mushrooms, attracting many foragers who are putting new pressures on the land害羞草研究所檚 fragile ecosystem.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 what they leave behind that is the problem and the devastation, the damage they害羞草研究所檙e doing cutting trees down,害羞草研究所� said Chief James Tomma. 害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e seeing the unwanted killing of the wildlife who are under a lot of stress right now and really vulnerable.害羞草研究所�
In a written statement, the B.C. Ministry of Forests said it is continuing to 害羞草研究所渕onitor the situation and may take steps in the future, should circumstances indicate a change is needed.害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所淧icking mushrooms is an activity shared by many people in B.C. and there is no licence requirement at this time,害羞草研究所� the statement said. 害羞草研究所淲e are deeply concerned, and everyone should be aware and respectful of the First Nation territories they are on.
害羞草研究所淎t this time, we are working together with Skwl膩x Nation to monitor any activities that may have a negative impact on the environment.害羞草研究所�
Mushroom experts said now may be the time for B.C. to look at possible changes in regulating foraging in the province, given the possible increases in the number and intensity of wildfires and morel mushrooms害羞草研究所� tendency to thrive on land in the year directly after a blaze.
害羞草研究所淭he province has grappled with this issue before, and in the end 害羞草研究所� twice that I害羞草研究所檓 familiar with, including one that I was quite involved with 害羞草研究所� they backed away from any kind of regulation of pickers or buyers,害羞草研究所� said B.C. forest ecologist Andy MacKinnon.
害羞草研究所淢y own personal opinion is that I think it害羞草研究所檚 a system that害羞草研究所檚 not working too badly. But if we are getting into situations like the one with morels in the southern Interior right now, perhaps it害羞草研究所檚 time to have another look at that question.害羞草研究所�
MacKinnon said morels thrive on freshly burned land for a number of reasons, including more access to sunlight in lieu of tree cover, the warming of the soil and the nutrients found in the ash that害羞草研究所檚 left behind.
It means more conflicts over morel picking may arise as the number of wildfires in B.C. increases, creating more waves of crops on lands where different parties rush in to forage them in an unregulated environment.
Last year害羞草研究所檚 record-setting wildfire season in B.C. saw 28,400 square kilometres of land scorched by blazes, with tens of thousands forced to evacuate and hundreds of homes and structures lost.
The BC Wildfire Service said drought conditions in parts of the province have led to an amplified risk of 害羞草研究所渉oldover fires害羞草研究所� smouldering underground over the winter that could re-emerge in the spring and summer, with more than 100 such blazes listed in January.
One such holdover fire is the out-of-control, 673-square-kilometre Patry Creek blaze north of Fort Nelson, the largest wildfire of note in B.C. as of Saturday.
害羞草研究所淐limate change is projected to warm and dry climates in the summer time and create conditions for more explosive wildfires,害羞草研究所� MacKinnon said. 害羞草研究所淪o we can expect, if we get the projected increase in number and area covered and intensity of wildfires, to get corresponding booms in the fire morels.害羞草研究所�
Tomma said that reality has already arrived for the Skwlax te Secwepemculecw, where residents are already preoccupied with rebuilding their homes after last year害羞草研究所檚 wildfires when the rising number of foragers began showing up to pick morels.
He said one case even involved 害羞草研究所渁n individual (who) felt it was his right害羞草研究所� to be on Nation land, and there was 害羞草研究所渟ome physical violence and intimidation害羞草研究所� that took place, although he declined to comment further as the case has been reported to police.
害羞草研究所淭hat was one of the instances that spurred (the thinking of), OK, now we need to take affirmative action here,害羞草研究所� Tomma said. 害羞草研究所淲e decided, 害羞草研究所極K, enough害羞草研究所檚 enough, nobody else is gonna do anything.害羞草研究所� I do have guardians that are going out there now, trying to not be confrontational, but asking people to at least be respectful.害羞草研究所�
Tomma said the guardians are being put in place not only to protect the freshly burnt land but also the mushroom pickers themselves, as the post-wildfire terrain can be dangerous and many foragers are 害羞草研究所渨eekend warriors害羞草研究所� who are at risk of hurting themselves.
He said while foragers would be required to get permission from Nation officials before entering the land and picking morels, he is currently focused on working with the province on a 害羞草研究所渃ollaborative system害羞草研究所� to ensure people害羞草研究所檚 safety and environmental protection.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 still in its fundamental stage right now where we害羞草研究所檙e trying to build that working relationship that will hopefully last beyond our lifetime,害羞草研究所� Tomma said. 害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所� As the original stewards of the land, we would like to be given stewardship of the watersheds that fall within our traditional territory.害羞草研究所�
Online listings show the price of fresh wild Canadian morel mushrooms at around $30 per pound.
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Chuck Chiang, The Canadian Press
