Fungal Foray has headed west for 20th anniversary

Fungal hunt turns 20

The New Zealand Fungal Foray has headed west for its 20th anniversary.

The week-long Foray is held each year at a different site in New Zealand, and this year it is based at Westport. Participants include mycologists (fungal scientists), photographers, gastronomes, students, natural history buffs and enthusiasts from all walks of life.

Fungal species are collected with landowners’ permission, and laid out for identification at the end of each Foray day. The specimens are later stored in recognised national collections to be used by researchers worldwide.

Landcare Research mycologist Dr Peter Buchanan says there are more than 60 participants this year, including visitors from Australia, Japan, the US, the UK, the Netherlands, Austria and Sweden.

Collecting will continue on Thursday and Friday of this week, in forests surrounding Westport and north to Karamea. These areas are the only known locations of several rare and threatened fungi. On Wednesday (today) a conference is being held to present fungal research papers.

The Foray will also include the first AGM of the new society the Fungal Network of New Zealand, established at last year’s Foray at Ohakune.

The 20th New Zealand Fungal Foray: Westport 7–13 May

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Fungal Network of New Zealand: www.funnz.org.nz

ENDS

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