Are permissions necessary to take snacks, boletus and other mushrooms in the Community of Madrid?

Autumn is the time of the ideal year for the collection of one of the most coveted products of our gastronomy: mushrooms.Niscalos, boletus or mushrooms, you can find many fungal species in our mountains, although you have to have a series of basic knowledge in mycology to distinguish which are edible and which can cause us intoxication.

This is the first basic advice of environmental experts and mycology before going to collect mushrooms during these months of the year.Not all people who enter the forests know how to collect mushrooms, so you have to consult with experts previously to have the right tools and, above all, respect the ecosystem.

Is mushroom collection allowed in Madrid?

In the case of the Community of Madrid, the best areas to collect this delicacy are found in the Sierra de Guadarrama, north of the region, where you can find boletus edulis, friar mushrooms, monsary, snack, wild mushrooms or mushrooms of mushrooms or mushroomsthistle, among other varieties.

Alameda del Valle, the Valley of El Paular, the port of Canencia or the Port of Cotos are some of the places preferred by mycology fans to spend a day of hiking and take the opportunity to collect some specimens of mushrooms.But is any special permit in the Community of Madrid required?

In certain communities it is necessary to request specific permits to be able to collect mushrooms.Law 16/1995, of May 4, forestry and the protection of the nature of the Community of Madrid determines in article 76 referring to the uses that "the customary collection of wood, fruits, plants, mushrooms or forest waste in thepublic mountains, can be done without further requirements than the tacit consent of the owner of the mountain. "

In this sense, the Community of Madrid "may regulate this type of use in public utility mountains, not being able to establish fees for this concept."

Where does an authorization require?

For its part, the Governing and Management Plan of the National Park of the Sierra de Guadarrama, which regulates this matter, establishes in article 59 that mushroom collection is a "an activity compatible with conservation", provided that it is carried outon land with an approved use plan.

Mushroom collection is considered a traditional and compatible activity for own use, "except in reserve areas and restricted use areas where it will be prohibited," he adds.In addition, only the residents of the municipalities of the area of socioeconomic influence of the collection zone can market with these products.

The collection in these areas "will be subject to authorization by the property of the land, without prejudice to the licenses or other requirements to be able to carry out the activity, the episodic collection being prohibited and always attending to the following general regulation."

As they detail on the website of the Sierra de Guadarrama Park, mushrooms can be collected "in most of the park regulated mountains" but visitors have to take into account the following aspects:

As the Community of Madrid adds in a document on good practices in the natural environment in mushroom season, "the collection is allowed, but it is necessary to follow a series of basic standards."In this way, it is necessary to "know the land that is going to circulate to know if it is a private place or with some regulations that restrict the collection."

The regulations of the region "grant the right to have any individual, in a timely manner, can benefit from the mycological resource in public mountains, but can be limited by the owner of the mountain."

The importance of enjoying mycology without risk

In the Community of Madrid there is no general permit to be able to collect mushrooms, but it is really necessary to have basic knowledge or go to the company of mycology experts so that it is not a dangerous activity.

As they remember from the Ministry of Environment of the Community of Madrid, there are eight environmental education centers distributed throughout the region in which several routes dedicated to the collection of mushrooms can be made where to learn to recognize them.