Socio‐economic, scientific, and political benefits of mycotourism

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  • Ulf Büntgen
    Department of Geography University of Cambridge Downing Place Cambridge CB2 3EN UK
  • Joaquin Latorre
    Micocyl‐Junta de Castilla y León‐Fundación Cesefor Las Casas 4 42004 Soria Spain
  • Simon Egli
    Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL Zurcherstrasse 111 8903 Birmensdorf Switzerland
  • Fernando Martínez‐Peña
    European Mycological Institute EGTC‐EMI 42003 Soria Spain

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<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p>Rural areas particularly suffer from economic crises where they overlap with long‐term negative effects of climate change. Here, we introduce the concept of mycotourism by means of mushroom‐related industries in central‐northeastern Spain. We describe how this novel branch of eco‐tourism can help stabilize social and political structures. Likewise, we illuminate the potential of mycotourism to compensate for some losses related to widespread unemployment and summer drought, as well as to generate unexpectedly fruitful research opportunities. Focussing on Spain's emerging black truffle industry, we recommend a stronger involvement of natural sciences, conservation services, and management strategies in commercial endeavors. We emphasize the relevance of direct and indirect climatic impacts on ecological and societal systems as well as on economic markets. Moreover, we stress the importance of a vital science–policy interface at various scales, with immediate opportunities for sustainable landscape protection and the preservation of biological diversity.</jats:p>

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