HIDDEN TREASURES OF THE FORESTS: MANAGEMENT, ECONOMIC POTENTIAL, AND SUSTAINABLE USE OF EDIBLE MUSHROOMS

Abstract

Globally, edible mushrooms from forests, which are regarded as one of the main non-wood forest products, have a significant contribution to food security and livelihoods. The aim of this study was to bring attention to the widespread edible mushrooms, by highlighting their country level perspectives in countries with great tradition in terms of harvesting and the environmental and economic drivers of their productivity. A bibliometric analysis was performed on published papers in Web of Science and Scopus databases, and by using Microsoft Excel and VOSviewer software. A total of 873 articles published since 1975 in 327 academic journals were considered. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine, Environmental Science and Pollution Research, Journal of Fungi, and Mycoscience were the journals with the highest number of published papers. The results of the bibliometric analysis highlighted the worldwide interest in the management of wild edible mushrooms and their ecological and economic importance, on one hand and the need of sustainable use and regional conservation strategies, on another hand.