Why Are Truffles Banned? The Story of Illegal Harvesting from Forests
Truffles are not banned; unlicensed harvesting from forests and pastures is. This kind of harvesting injures tree roots, destroys the mushroom reserve in the area, and sends the main profits to smugglers.
"Truffles are forbidden." You hear this phrase a lot, especially when the news of the discovery of smuggled truffle shipments in the north of the country is published. Many people conclude from this that this mushroom is expensive or poisonous or it is a crime to eat it. Neither is true. What is prohibited is the method and place of harvesting truffles, not this food itself.
It is forbidden to harvest truffles from forests and natural pastures without a permit. There are three reasons for this: digging up the soil damages the roots of the trees, destroys the mushroom reserve in the same area, and opens the way for smuggling.
In Iran, this ban has been announced by the natural resources departments of the provinces. For example, Esfand 1400, Director General of Natural Resources and Watershed Management of Golestan announced the ban on truffle harvesting in this province. He said that violators will be dealt with according to the law.
In an interview, the head of Zanjan's Natural Resources Pasture Office considered the harvesting of this product to be "an example of smuggling". According to him, the product that is harvested more than the allowed amount will be confiscated for the benefit of the government. So truffle is neither a forbidden substance nor a poisonous mushroom. The main problem is the uncontrolled use of natural resources.
What is a truffle and why is it so sensitive?
Truffle mushroom is an edible mushroom that grows completely underground and cannot be seen on the ground. In Iran, it is also called "Denbalan", although desert and European black truffles are different species.
This fungus is attached to the root of a tree or host plant. The fungus brings water and minerals to the roots and in return it takes sugar from the plant. European truffles grow mostly next to trees such as oaks and hazelnuts, and field truffles grow next to bushes and pasture plants.
This dependence makes perception sensitive. To get to the truffle, you have to cut right next to the root. If this work is done with a shovel and pickaxe and without knowledge, the root will be injured. The fine filaments of the mushroom also fall apart in the soil.
Three main reasons for banning truffle harvesting
Natural resources experts in Zanjan say that shoveling to find stalks injures the roots of trees and may dry the tree. The prosecutor of Golestan has also warned that this damage can open the way for pests and diseases to the forest.
In a report, the General Administration of Natural Resources of Mazandaran called the truffle harvest "the bane of Hyrcanian oaks". This is a serious concern, because the Hyrcanian forests of northern Iran are registered in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Any old tree that is lost will not be replaced for decades.
Loss of truffles in the same area
Truffles need spores to reproduce; Very small particles that play the role of seeds for mushrooms. According to the natural resources of Zanjan, the harvest season of Danbalan in this province starts from the middle of March and continues until the end of September. If the mushroom is picked out of season and recklessly, it will not have the opportunity to spread spores. Experts in Golestan have warned that irregular harvesting may destroy the truffles of an area in two to three years.
Truffles are also food for animals such as squirrels and mice. So, its destruction is not only a loss for the harvesters, but also disrupts the forest food chain.
Truffle is one of the most expensive foods in the world, and this has made its harvest profitable for dealers. Golestan officials have said that this product is often smuggled abroad. In Zanjan, police stations, terminals and customs have been coordinated to prevent its transportation and export.
In recent years, news such as the discovery of smuggled truffle shipments in Golestan and the disintegration of a truffle smuggling gang in Neka have also been published. In this cycle, the profit goes to the pocket of the smuggler and the cost is paid by the forest.
The ban on harvesting truffles is not only for Iran
In countries where truffles have a large market, their harvest is controlled by strict laws. The purpose of these laws, like in Iran, is to preserve the soil, tree roots and store truffles for the next years. Two well-known examples are Italy and Saudi Arabia.
In Italy, since 1985, a law has been implemented that obliges truffle hunters to take a test and obtain a special card. Search is only allowed with a trained dog. The use of pigs was abandoned in the same year, because it damages the mushroom threads in the soil when digging.
Digging the soil also has a rule. The truffle hunter digs only with a special shovel and only at the spot indicated by the dog. He has to fill the hole again with the same soil. Searching at night is prohibited, each type of truffle has a specific harvesting season, and selling fresh truffles outside the season is also prohibited.
In Saudi Arabia, where desert truffles are very popular, the environmental police have warned truffle hunters. Entering protected areas without permission is fined 5 thousand Saudi Riyals. Cutting or destroying the fence of these areas has a fine of 100,000 rials and the guilty person must compensate for the damage.
Is it forbidden to eat truffles?
It is not forbidden to eat truffles. The prohibitions announced by natural resources are related to harvesting without permission from the forest and pasture and to transporting and exporting this product. However, when buying wild truffles, ask the seller where the product comes from. Unquestioning purchase from brokers keeps the same cycle of unauthorized withdrawal alive.
Edible truffles are not psychoactive either. Part of this misunderstanding comes from the name "magic truffle". The Netherlands banned the sale of hallucinogenic mushrooms in 2008. After that, underground masses of the same mushrooms were sold in that country under the name "magic truffle". This product has nothing to do with edible truffles and only the name is similar.
Cultivated truffle; A way to reduce the pressure on the forest
Picking from nature is not the only way to get truffles. Today, European black truffle is also harvested in truffle gardens and is considered an agricultural product in Europe. In this method, the roots of oak or hazelnut seedlings are impregnated with truffle spores in the nursery, and the seedlings are planted in suitable ground. Harvesting usually begins a few years later, with dogs and without forest destruction.
Growing truffles in Iran is also biologically possible, but it is not an easy task and the profit is not guaranteed. The soil, climate and host plant must be compatible with the mushroom species. However, if this method takes hold, the market will be less dependent on harvesting from forests and pastures.
Warning: Not every underground mass is a truffle
Some mushrooms look like truffles, but they are not edible. One of them is the "dirt ball" or scleroderma, which the North Carolina State University Extension Center has declared toxic. After cutting, the inside of this mushroom is uniform and dark and does not have the marble veins of the truffle. It also has a pungent and chemical smell.
For this reason, don't eat any wild underground mushrooms just by appearance. Species identification is the work of an expert and a simple mistake can lead to poisoning.
Truffles are not prohibited; It is forbidden to take it without permission from the forest and pasture. In this type of harvesting, the roots of the trees are wounded, the mushroom stock in the same area is destroyed, and the main profit goes to the pockets of the smugglers. Countries like Italy have been controlling the same issue for years with tests, cards, harvesting seasons and fines. If you buy truffles, ask where they come from and don't eat any wild underground mushrooms without an expert diagnosis.