The Boreal Mushroom Forests project continues to map the fungus in the counties of Norrland. Thanks to funding from the Strangell Foundation, the project has been able to bring in extra field inventories during this year’s mushroom season. More people in the forest in combination with very good mushroom availability has yielded results – the project has managed to inventory almost 40 forests with a total area of over 2,030 hectares. Among the finds are many rare species, several of them in great need of better mapping. Large odor spider, blue-footed fairy spider, predatory spider, probable cobalt spider, Ramaria neoformosa sensu schild, “cake-scented mountain mushroom” and isabellporing are some fine species to mention. The most interesting mushrooms have been collected, dried and will be DNA sequenced. The answers are expected sometime in the coming winter months.
The project has also networked and contributed with expertise during several different courses and meetings, some examples:
During one of the survey weeks, the project team was visited by Tapio Kekki, an experienced mycologist from northern Finland. The team and Tapio discussed the similarities and differences between the limestone coniferous forests of northern Finland and northern Sweden and exchanged experiences about the common species stock. Some species have so far only been found on the Finnish side of the national border, and the project will focus on the Torne Valley next year.
On 4–6 September, the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation Norrbotten arranged a forest group meeting with the theme of sand pine forests. Boreal Mushroom Forests assisted with two experts, Petra Wikström and Anton Lundberg. During the meeting, several of the sand pine forest’s most nature-interesting species were found.
15–16 September: Helena Björnström and Petra Wikström held a two-day course for the County Administrative Board of Norrbotten. The first day was spent in limestone coniferous forest and day two in sand pine forest. The evenings were devoted to workshops where participants keyed species and discussed the species’ ecological requirements.
On September 20, Erik Persson held an excursion in Nordingrå, Ångermanland with Härnösand’s mushroom club. The focus was on species identification in the large genus of spider mushrooms, Cortinarius.
There were also visitors from Ånge, Umeå and Söderhamn. There were many fun species that were not previously known on the premises. These included the calcareous Phrygian spider (VU), twin spider (VU), powder spider (NT) and not least the checkerboard mushroom (EN) – which was found for the first time in Nordingrå.
During the autumn, Helena Björnström has been out filming with SVT, Protect the Forest and a documentary filmmaker from Patagonia. “As for the SVT production, you will have to wait patiently until 2028, but I can at least predict that the wonderful mushroom wild strawberry chanterelle will be a real star in the TV box!” says Helena.
Feel free to take a look at Boreala Mushroom Forests’ Instagram to take part in pictures and videos from the mushroom forest! https://www.instagram.com/boreala_svampskogar/
Also check out the project’s website: https://borealasvampskogar.se/