Mycotourism: A Driving Force for Rural Development in Québec
Summary
In rural areas where there is a need for diversified economic activity and willingness to harness abundant forest resources, the idea for developing a type of tourism that focuses on wild mushrooms was born. Mycotourism could enable non-timber forest products (NTFPs), specifically wild mushrooms, to be integrated into the economic and sustainable activities of the region of Kamouraska, Québec. To achieve this goal, Biopterre assisted regional decision makers to lay the foundation for the development of such a project in the region.
What is Mycotourism?
Mycotourism is an activity that falls under the area of eco-tourism or recreational tourism and is based on the exploitation of forest fungi. Susana Maria Carvalho de Castro (Lisbonne, 2009) offers the following definition: “an activity belonging to the tourism sector, aimed at ensuring the protection and promotion of fungal resources, to foster economic development and to improve the quality of life of populations (…) It involves knowledge or interpretation of mycology and (…) is an effective means of achieving sustainable development for our regions”.
While little or unknown in Québec, mycotourism is an activity that has proved to be quite lucrative in Europe, specifically in the region of Castilla y Leon, Spain – its economic impact in the area exceeds 60 million euros annually, with half the rural population depending on the industry (Micosylva, 2011).
Mycotourism aims to enhance fungal resources in a specific area that has been adapted accordingly. This involves developing not only the usual infrastructures for properly receiving, housing and feeding visitors, but also adding paths and access points to forest sites rich in edible mushrooms. It can complement other outdoor activities, such as camping or nature classes. It is suitable for families, groups or individuals, with or without a guide. Mycotourism is intended for both short-term and long-term visitors, as well as the local population. Other activities for local residents include an educational component for schools, interpretive trails and the implementation of a Circle of Amateur Mycologists.
Trails are usually well marked and well maintained, with panels to inform visitors about protected areas, species, precautions to be taken, etc.
Information and interpretive materials are developed and distributed. Participants harvest specific mushrooms within set quotas and well-defined harvesting sectors, and back at base camp they present their harvest and receive advice on conserving and consuming their mushrooms.
Mycotourism involves the integration of wild mushrooms within all pre-existing aspects of tourism (promotion, marketing, restaurant menus, grocery stores, specialty mushroom products, exhibitions, interpretive centres, thematic festivals, trail signage, etc.). If permitted by local infrastructures such as restaurants or shelters, culinary activities can be organized (from simple to sophisticated) and offered at a discount price that includes housing, harvesting and food tasting.
To ensure its effective implementation, mycotourism implies acquiring a wide scope of scientific knowledge in order to understand the targeted species, its ecosystem as well as resource sustainability. This includes identifying new sectors, ensuring suitable sites, understanding effective and harmful forestry treatments, mushroom cultivation, and alternately shifting harvesting areas.
The Project
The development of the Kamouraska Highlands, through the implementation of a regional park, is consistent with a political will to diversify and develop sustainable methods of exploiting resources. Given that development of a mycotourism project is directly in line with this approach, stakeholders in the region worked with Biopterre Bioproducts Development Center to estimate the potential of the project. They were aware that this is an innovative project in Québec with the potentialto serve a unique purpose by structuring and enhancing a site that was in need of revival. In Kamouraska, development has naturally always been focused along the Saint-Lawrence River, leaving the Highlands – far from the river and transport routes – to the logging industry, which has been declining over the last few years. Adding value to non-timber forest products, specifically wild mushrooms, presented itself as an ideal opportunity for development.
Approach
Biopterre conducted a three-part study to evaluate the mycotouristic potential of the Kamouraska Highlands Regional Park. The development of a mycotouristic project draws on the principles of sustainable development. Environmental issues were therefore viewed equally in relation to economic, ethical and social considerations.
First, extensive consultation with local stakeholders from several fields of activity was undertaken. It was important to meet all those directly involved in order to inform them about mycotourism and how it can be implemented in Kamouraska, to hear their concerns and ideas regarding development, and to assess social acceptability of the project. This also called for substantial efforts to create local ownership over the project and to foster regional pride.
Secondly, thorough knowledge of the land and its fungal resources – a vital element in the assessment of the mycotouristic potential of the region – was gained through a series of inventories. It would be impossible to effectively plan optimal use of a site without a precise understanding of the resources it holds. On-siteinventories were conducted to assess productivity in terms of mushrooms (boletes, chanterelles, lobster mushrooms, swollen-stocked cats, sweet tooth mushrooms), Labrador tea and blueberries, and to identify access points, paths and infrastructures that could be of use to the project. A list of the scientific and technological means required to ensure responsible and sustainable use of the resource was also put forth.
Finally, taking into account the data collected in the two first phases of the project, a concrete scenario was proposed, based on the Spanish management model, along with an action plan for the implementation of mycotourism in Kamouraska.
The results and recommendations were then presented to decision makers in the region – mayors, community development officers, development agencies – creating a basis for a concrete and concerted initiative for the development of the Kamouraska Highlands Regional Park, with a focus on enhancing fungal resources as well as other important naturally occurring NTFPs.
Results
Developing a regional park to enhance mycological resources is a decision that showcases the vision of stakeholders. Such a project is, so far, unique in Québec, and promises to have a significant touristic and economic impact.
Eco-tourism, a type of tourism that focuses on the discovery of nature and which includes mycotourism, is an extremely popular activity in Québec. We can mention, for example, the success of national parks and their interpretive programming. Coupled with a well-tailored communication plan, the project will contribute to the creation of a unique and innovative image in the region that can unfold throughout the province.
The economic spinoffs of implementing such a project are significant. These include diversification of tourist attractions, enhancement of devitalized regions, access to land and its NFTPs, development and sales of mycotouristic products and services, structuring the mushroom market, business start-ups, job creation, seasonal employment through operations, establishment of partnerships, community development, etc.
Experience
Biopterre’s approach gave rise to some valuable lessons in mycotourism.
It is ideally suited for rural development, in that it is inclusive and well adapted to other uses. With mycotourism, every municipality can offer a unique product, adding value to its overall offering without competing with its neighbour. For example, some sectors can be dedicated specifically to harvesting, others to education. The advantage of this is to allow each municipality of Kamouraska to focus on its attractions and opportunities (infrastructures, fungal resources, human resources). In that sense, mycotourism can be viewed as a way of optimizing existing services and attractions (paths, restaurants, shelters, businesses centered on the outdoors, food processing industries, etc.).
Public consultation has ensured social acceptance, provided that fungal resources are exploited in a sustainable way and that the project is well-rooted in the region, meaning that it is not aimed merely at passing tourists, and that local benefits really do exist.
Mycotourism must be developed professionally: mycotouristic activities (guided tours, harvest, tastings, etc.) must be supported by a team of experts, given that there could be health risks associated with mushroom operations. This is why development of vocational training for guides and workshops related to mushrooms are essential for equipping stakeholders with the tools they need.
Finally, this project teaches us that rural life can motivate innovation. Rural areas have access to interesting resources that can be enhanced in various ways, and we owe it to ourselves to take risks, to challenge our assumptions and to explore new avenues.
