The Minister for the Department of the Environment, Lázaro Cabrera, has dictated a resolution to regulate the harvesting of criadas, a type of truffle, in National Parks and Nature Reserves. “There is an important tradition on Fuerteventura around the harvesting of these mushrooms, (Terfezia claveryi) but due to the number of people pursuing the activity it is necessary to establish criteria for their collection, otherwise there could be serious damage to the environment, since there are many people who go into the countryside to collect them without really knowing about the correct way to collect them”, explained Lázaro Cabrera.
The harvesting of the mushrooms in the protected areas will only be allowed between 15th February and the 30th April. This period could be modified different zones and years, due to the climatic differences between zones, and because the relationship between rain temperature and the fruition of the mushrooms means that the development is not always the same in all locations on the island or from year to year.
For the collection of criadas in authorised places and dates, only tools that do not damage the natural profile of the ground may be used, explicitly prohibited is the use of spades and dogs. While on private property the authorisation of the owner must be obtained. It is also prohibited to drive vehicles off the legally recognised roads and tracks.
The collection of the mushrooms for human consumption has gone on since time immemorial in ways that respected the environment, but in recent years there have been changes in the way of harvesting which could have a negative effect on the survival of the mushroom as well as for its surroundings and ecosystem.
There has been a serious increase in the number of people harvesting the mushroom, mainly as a pastime, and this has resulted in an increased use of vehicles, often off the roadways and tracks.
The increase in the number of amateur collectors has increased the time period over which the mushrooms are looked for. This has left inadequate time for the development of the fungus. The use of incorrect tools for their collection also results in the removal of more earth to locate them.
These types of practices generate complaints from the landowners about vehicles crossing their land, mushroom gatherers trampling the vegetation, the proliferation of unauthorised paths, adverse effects on birdlife. “Therefore it was necessary to regulate the collection of criadas, to avoid a traditional practice, badly performed, resulting in a serious deteriation of the countryside and customs. The Cabildo will act against people who are found to be collecting criadas outside of the allowed times and zones, or using inadequate methods”, said Lázaro Cabrera.
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