Conservation Policy

1. General Statement: The British Mycological Society is committed to the conservation of fungal population: and communities. To this end it will foster and promote those activities which contribute to survival of viable fungal populations and communities.

2 Threatened Fungi: The Society will contribute to and publish a Red List which conforms with International standards and will press for positive conservation of threatened fungi through national and international measures.

3. Habitat Conservation: The Society will seek protection for important mycological sites against loss. deterioration or fragmentation. howsoever caused.

4. Edible Fungi: The Society acknowledge: the importance of edible wild fungi as a resource to be utilised. but accepts harvesting of such fungi only where it is non-threatening to the viability of fungal population:, and their associated organism: and habitats.

5. Code of Conduct: The Society will publish a Code of Conduct for the responsible collecting of fungi.

6. Research: The Society's constitutional object 'to promote mycology' encompasses encouragement of research on the biology. including taxonomy and ecology. of fungi: on the causes of decline of fungal populations, and on the cultivation of edible fungi.

7. Information: The Society will monitor and record the occurrence of fungi and make its Database available to its members and to outside organisations and individuals.

8. Education: The Society will promote a wider understanding of the importance of the conservation of fungi.

9. Collaboration: The Society will enhance its links with organisations concerned with conservation and the protection of the environment at local, national and international levels.

10. Review: The Society will review and update its conservation policy, as required, to take account of new research findings and changes in relevant legislation and environmental policy.

December 1997