heed the Law: Consequences for Picking Rare Mushrooms in Russia
知道自己 Јо trash: Safety Tips for Mushroom Hunters in Russia
Variety of precious and scarce fungi forages in Russia subject to users' attentive gathering, minding due care.
In Russia, there's a good reason to watch your step when strolling through the woods, especially when it comes to those hard-to-find, top-dollar mushrooms. Attorney Alla Georgieva recently warned against picking these precious fungi, clarifying that doing so could land you in hot water.
Matsutake, the culprit, and the repercussions
One mushroom of interest is the matsutake, which calls the Caucasus, Eastern Siberia, and the Far East, including Sakhalin, its moist, forested home. This scarce beauty is highly sought after for its unique flavor and medicinal properties, making it a treasure trove for foragers. But take heed: illegally harvesting this mushroom, as outlined in Article 260.1 of the Russian Criminal Code (illegal extraction, collection, and trade of particularly valuable plants and mushrooms), can lead to some hefty penalties – up to a staggering nine years behind bars.
Businesses taking responsibility for rare finds
The Ministry of Natural Resources is looking to impose responsibility on businesses for the collection of rare mushrooms. If you're found guilty of plucking mushrooms off the Red Book, as outlined in Article 8.35 of the Code of Administrative Offenses, you could be hit with an administrative penalty of no less than 5,000 rubles. Red-listed mushrooms in Russia include the red webcap, alpine earmuff, curly ramaria, pinecone-like false morel, woolly milk cap, and many others.
To avoid trouble, Educate Yourself!
To stay on the right side of the law, Georgieva recommends familiarizing yourself with the list of rare mushrooms, carefully studying their appearance before setting foot in the forest. Overzealous foraging can have dire consequences, and ignorance of the law is no excuse.
A fine first introduced in 2023
Fines for damaging red-listed mushrooms in Russia were introduced in October 2023. Article 8.35 of the Code of Administrative Offenses was originally limited to illegal activities concerning animals and plants. Simultaneously, a new Article 260.1 was added to the Criminal Code.
Remember, ignorance of the law is no excuse. To ensure you're complying with all regulations, seek guidance from legal sources or a specialist in environmental or agricultural law. Stick to the safety rules, and you'll be able to enjoy nature's bounty without any trouble!
- The Caucasus, Eastern Siberia, and the Far East are home to the rare and valuable matsutake mushrooms.
- Illegally harvesting the matsutake mushrooms, as outlined in Article 260.1 of the Russian Criminal Code, could result in penalties up to nine years in prison.
- The Ministry of Natural Resources is planning to hold businesses accountable for the collection of rare mushrooms, and offenders could face administrative penalties of no less than 5,000 rubles.
- Fines for damaging red-listed mushrooms in Russia were introduced in October 2023, as a new Article 260.1 was added to the Criminal Code and Article 8.35 of the Code of Administrative Offenses was expanded to include mushrooms.
