BSI Itanagar Conducts Mushroom Diversity and Conservation Training in Arunachal Pradesh

The Botanical Survey of India (BSI) office in Itanagar recently organized a training programme aimed at enhancing understanding of mushroom diversity and promoting conservation practices across Arunachal Pradesh. Participants, including forest officials, researchers and community representatives, were briefed on the identification of edible and medicinal fungi as well as the ecological role of mushrooms in forest ecosystems.

The workshop emphasized sustainable harvesting techniques, documentation of species, and the importance of preserving fungal habitats amid growing commercial interest. Trainers highlighted that Arunachal Pradesh, with its varied altitude and climate, hosts a rich array of fungal species that remain largely undocumented.

BSI officials said the initiative seeks to build local capacity for biodiversity monitoring and to create livelihood opportunities through responsible mushroom cultivation and trade. The training is part of a broader effort to integrate fungal conservation into the state's environmental management plans.