Chanterelles, porcini mushrooms, button mushrooms… Mushrooms along the way are often a tempting offer. But how many mushrooms can you collect? And what is actually allowed when picking mushrooms? We'll enlighten you.
In a nutshell
- regulated by the Federal Nature Conservation Act, the Federal Species Protection Act and the State Forest Act
- Collect small amounts for personal use
- protected mushroom species and places
- only allowed in selected areas
to pick mushrooms
Over 13,000 species of mushrooms are known in Germany. About a third of these mushrooms are on the red list and are therefore threatened with extinction. Fungi are important for the forest ecosystem, especially for the decomposition of plants and animals. But we also know them for their good taste. If you decide to collect mushrooms yourself, you should consider the following:
- only go on the search with expertise or competent companions
- Cut off the bottom of the mushrooms with a knife or carefully turn them out of the ground
- fill the resulting holes with leaves/hummus
- transport air-permeable
- don't eat raw
- use within 24 hours
- Go to hospital if you have any unusual symptoms
Be careful when cooking with mushrooms.
notice: Although it is not forbidden per se to collect red list mushrooms, it is morally questionable. If you care about nature, just leave the mushrooms alone.
How many mushrooms can you collect?
Which and how many mushrooms you are allowed to collect is generally defined in 3 laws:
- Federal Nature Conservation Act (BNatSchG)
- Federal Species Protection Act (BArtSchV)
- State forest laws (LWaldG)
Wild mushrooms are protected by §1 Appendix 1 BArtSchV and are therefore not actually allowed to be collected. However, §2 BArtSchV allows for some exceptions. For example, small amounts of porcini mushrooms or chanterelles can be taken from nature for your own use. Some federal states have adopted this in their own rules:
- Baden-Württemberg: § 40 LWaldG Baden-Württemberg
- Bavaria: Section 13 BayWaldG in conjunction with Section 28 BayNatSchG
- Berlin: Section 13 (2) LWaldG Berlin
- Brandenburg: § 15 paragraph 7LWaldG Brandenburg
- Mecklenburg-West Pomerania: Section 31 LWaldG Mecklenburg-West Pomerania
- Rhineland-Palatinate: § 23 LWaldG Rhineland-Palatinate
- Saxony: SächsWaldG § 14 Section 1
- Thuringia: ThürWaldG § 6
Other federal states only refer to § 39 BNatSchG. What all federal and state regulations have in common is that mushrooms may be collected in small quantities for personal use. The competent lower nature conservation authority decides what is meant by a small amount. In general, about 200 g per person are estimated. If you extrapolate this for a family and several meals, the result is about 1 to 2 kg, which an individual can count as the maximum personal requirement. However, a weight limit such as that found in Austrian law does not exist in Germany. As soon as the quantity exceeds the individual requirement, it is commercial stealing and is prohibited. There is then a risk of a fine of up to five figures.
Mushrooms may only be collected in small quantities.
notice: If you want to legally collect mushrooms in excess of 1 to 2 kg, you need a mushroom collection license. This official permit is usually issued by the local nature conservation authority against payment of a fee.
What is allowed?
In addition to the permitted amount, there are also other legal requirements for mushroom picking. That's how it's forbidden
- collect rare species of mushrooms
- indiscriminately cut off unknown mushrooms
- Mushrooms collected in the forest for sale
- partly to collect mushrooms at certain times
You should also note where you are allowed to pick mushrooms. In general, according to Section 39 (3) BNatSchG, collection is permitted wherever there is no ban on entry. However, this also means that collecting is prohibited in some places. Places with a ban on entry include:
- public parks
- nature reserves
- national parks
- taper areas
- Areas where wood is felled
- fenced lots
Which properties you are allowed to enter, on the other hand, is regulated by the entry rights of the federal states. You can find this in the following places:
- Baden-Württemberg: § 37 LWaldG
- Bavaria: Art. 13 BayWaldG
- Berlin: § 14 LWaldG
- Brandenburg: § 15 LWaldG
- Bremen: § 13 BremWaldG
- Hamburg: § 9 LWaldG
- Hesse: § 15 HWaldG
- Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania: § 28 LWaldG
- Lower Saxony: § 23 NWaldLG
- North Rhine-Westphalia: § 2 LFoG
- Rhineland-Palatinate: § 22 LWaldG
- Saarland: § 25 LWaldG
- Saxony: § 11 SächsWaldG
- Schleswig-Holstein: § 17 LWaldG
- Thuringia: § 6 ThürWaldG
You can find out where you are allowed to pick mushrooms from the state forest laws.
notice: Even if it is allowed to collect small amounts of mushrooms at these places, you should never collect the respective place of discovery radically. This is how you support biodiversity.
frequently asked Questions
When is the best time to pick mushrooms?Mushrooms grow all year round. However, the typical edible mushrooms are mostly sought after from spring to autumn. Days with warm, humid and muggy weather are best.
Can a forest owner prohibit me from collecting in his forest?A private forest owner can generally prohibit you from collecting on his property. However, the resident hunter does not have this right.
Can I pick mushrooms next to a road?If there is no ban on entering the area, yes. However, collecting mushrooms on meadows that are over-fertilized and contaminated with pesticides and directly next to roads is not advisable because of the pollution.