Ethnomycology of Yayo Coffee Forest Biosphere Reserve, southwest Ethiopia
Abstract
Aim of study: To gather ethnomycological knowledge from local communities inhabiting in the Yayo Coffee Forest Biosphere Reserve (Yayo CFBR).
Area of study: Yayo Coffee Forest Biosphere Reserve, located in Illuababora province, southwest Ethiopia. Material and methods: Semi-structured interviews involving 1,189 individuals, including group and key informant discussions performed in September and October 2023 were analyzed to assess the ethnomycological knowledge of six local communities. Weekly mushroom surveys were conducted during the main rainy season (July and August 2023) in the reserve’s buffer and transition zones.
Main results: Twenty-one of the 51 mushroom species found in the reserve were edible. Agaricus campestroides, Macrolepiota africana, Tremella mesenterica, Termitomyces sp., and Schizophyllum commune were the most popular. Although 51.6% of respondents were familiar with mushrooms and their use as a medicine and/or food, only 34% of respondents collected mushrooms for consumption. Women and children collect mushrooms during the main rainy season. Negative perceptions and cultural taboos contribute to mycophobia. Respondents identified five mushroom habitats and seven distinct substrates where mushrooms grow. The majority of respondents (61.2%) were aware that wild mushrooms can be toxic, and some were capable of distinguish mushrooms based on color, smell, and texture. Most respondents (84.3%) believed that the wild mushrooms abundance had decreased due to deforestation, overgrazing, fire, or settlements.
Research highlights: The baseline ethnomycological information obtained in this study could promote sustainable forest practices through training and awareness, which could help to preserve the biosphere reserve, boost coffee productivity, and aid regions dealing with similar challenges.
Downloads
References
Abate D (2014). Wild mushrooms and mushroom cultivation efforts in Ethiopia. WSMBMP Bulletin, 11: 1–3.
Adhikari MK, Devkota S, Tiwari RD (2005). Ethnomycological knowledge on uses of wild mushrooms in Western and Central Nepal. Our Nature, 3: 13–19.
Anderson MK (2005). Tending the Wild: Native American Knowledge and the Management of California’s Natural Resources. University of California Press, Berkeley.
Arora D (2008). The houses that matsutake built. Economic Botany, 62: 278–290. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12231-008-9048-1
Asfaw Z, Tadesse M (2001). Prospects for sustainable use and development of wild food plants in Ethiopia. Economic Botany, 55: 47–62. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02864545
Boa E (2004). Wild edible fungi: A global overview of their use and importance to people. Non-Wood Forest Products No. 17. FAO, Rome, 20 pp.
Bridges KW, McClatchey WC (2009). Living on the margin: Ethnoecological insights from Marshall Islanders at Rongelap Atoll. Global Environmental Change, 19: 140–146. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2009.01.009
Chen J, Xu H, He D, Li Y, Luo T, Yang H, Lin M (2019). Historical logging alters soil fungal community composition and network in a tropical rainforest. Forest Ecology and Management, 433: 228–239. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2018.11.005
Chen YL, Liu S, Dell B (2007). Mycorrhizal status of Eucalyptus plantations in South China and implications for management. Mycorrhiza, 17: 527–535. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00572-007-0125-6
CSA (2007). Population and Housing Census of Ethiopia. Central Statistical Agency, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Dejene T, Oria-de-Rueda JA, Martín-Pinto P (2017a). Edible wild mushrooms of Ethiopia: neglected non-timber forest products. Revista Fitotecnia Mexicana, 40: 391–397. https://doi.org/10.35196/rfm.2017.4.391-397
Dejene T, Oria-de-Rueda JA, Martín-Pinto P (2017b). Wild mushrooms in Ethiopia: A review and synthesis for future perspective. Forest Systems, 26: 1–7. https://doi.org/10.5424/fs/2017261-10790
Egli S (2011). Mycorrhizal mushroom diversity and productivity – an indicator of forest health? Annals of Forest Science, 68: 81–88. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13595-010-0009-3
Ekandjo LK, Chimwamurombe PM (2012). Traditional medicinal uses and natural hosts of the genus Ganoderma in north-eastern parts of Namibia. Journal of Pure and Applied Microbiology, 6: 1139–1146.
Ferris R, Peace AJ, Newton AC (2000). Macrofungal communities of lowland Scots pine and Norway spruce plantations in England. Forest Ecology and Management, 131: 255–267. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0378-1127(99)00218-2
Ford RI (2011). History of ethnobiology. In: Ethnobiology (Anderson EN, Pearsall D, Hunn E, Turner N, eds.), pp. 15–26. John Wiley & Sons. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118015872.ch2
Frąc M, Jędryczka M, Hannula ES (2023). Editorial: Soil fungal biodiversity for plant and soil health, volume II. Frontiers in Microbiology, 14. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2023.1170312
Garibay-Orijel R, Caballero J, Estrada-Torres A, Cifuentes J (2007). Understanding cultural significance: the edible mushrooms case. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine, 3: 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1186/1746-4269-3-4
Garibay-Orijel R, Ramírez-Terrazo A, Ordaz-Velázquez M (2012). Women care about local knowledge: experiences from ethnomycology. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine, 8: 25. https://doi.org/10.1186/1746-4269-8-25
Gay L, Miles GE, Airasian P (2020). Educational Research: Competencies for Analysis and Applications (10th ed.). Pearson Education International, Boston.
Gole TW, Feyera S, Kassahun T, Fite G (2009). Yayu Coffee Forest Biosphere Reserve Nomination Form. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Hama O, Maes E, Guissou ML, Ibrahim DM, Barage M, Sánchez LP, Raspe O, De Kesel A (2010). Agaricus subsaharianus, a new species of edible fungus consumed in Niger, Burkina Faso and Tanzania. Cryptogamie Mycologie, 31: 221–234.
Härkönen M, Niemelä T, Kotiranta H, Pierce G (2015). Zambian mushrooms and mycology. Norrlinia, 29: 1–5.
Hopping KA, Yangzong C, Klein JA (2016). Local knowledge production, transmission and the importance of village leaders. Ecology and Society, 21: art25. https://doi.org/10.5751/ES-08009-210125
Hussain S, Sher H (2021). Ecological characterization of morel habitats in Swat, Pakistan. Acta Ecologica Sinica, 41: 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chnaes.2020.10.007
Kamalebo HM, Nshimba H, Wa S, Ndabaga CM (2018). Uses and importance of wild fungi in Tshopo Province, DR Congo. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine, 14: 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13002-017-0203-6
Kidane B et al. (2023). Ethno-taxonomy and potential uses of highland bamboo landraces in Ethiopia. Advances in Bamboo Science, 5: 100039. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bamboo.2023.100039
Kidane B et al. (2014). Ethnobotany of wild and semi-wild edible fruit species in southern Ethiopia. Ethnobotany Research and Applications, 12: 455–471. https://doi.org/10.17348/era.12.0.455-471
Kinge TR et al. (2017). Species richness and traditional knowledge of macrofungi in Cameroon. Journal of Mycology, 2017: 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/2809239
Lara-Capistran L et al. (2021). Biodiversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in coffee cultivated on eroded soil. Agronomy, 11: 567. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11030567
Lemenih M, Kassa H (2014). Re-greening Ethiopia: history, challenges and lessons. Forests, 5: 1896–1909. https://doi.org/10.3390/f5081896
Lulekal E, Asfaw Z, Kelbessa E, Damme P Van, 2011. Wild edible plants in Ethiopia: a review on their potential to combat food insecurity. Afrika Focus 24(2): 71–121. https://doi.org/10.21825/af.v24i2.4998
Martin G, 1995. Ethnobotany: a methods manual. WWF International, UNESCO and Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew / Chapman and Hall, London.
Mekonnen Z, Kassa H, Lemenh M, Campbell B, 2007. The role and managemet of Eucalyptus in Lode Hetosa district, Central Ethiopia. Forest, Trees and Livelihoods 17: 309–323. https://doi.org/10.1080/14728028.2007.9752606
Mekonnen Z, Kassa H, Woldeamanuel T, Asfaw Z, 2018. Analysis of observed and perceived climate change and variability in Arsi Negele District, Ethiopia. Environmental Development and Sustainability 20: 1191–1212. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-017-9934-8
Minnis PE, 2000. Ethnobotany. A Reader. Paul E. Minnis (ed.). University of Oklahoma Press, Norman. 327 pp.
Morris B, 1990. An annotated check-list of the macrofungi of Malawi. Kirkia 13: 323–364.
Motiejūnaitė J, Džekčioriūtė V, Kutorga E, Kasparavičius J, Iršėnaitė R, 2024. Diversity of ethnomycological knowledge and mushroom foraging culture in a small nation: case of Lithuania. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine 20: 88. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13002-024-00730-8
Muleta D, Woyessa D, Teferi Y, 2013. Mushroom consumption habits of Wacha Kebele residents, southwestern Ethiopia. Global Research Journal of Agricultural and Biological Sciences 4: 6–16.
Oria-De-Rueda JA, Martín-Pinto P, Olaizola J, 2008. Bolete productivity of cistaceous scrublands in northwestern Spain. Economic Botany 62: 323–330. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12231-008-9031-x
Osarenkhoe OO, John OA, Theophilus DA, 2014. Ethnomycological conspectus of West African mushrooms: an awareness document. Advances in Microbiology 4: 39–54. https://doi.org/10.4236/aim.2014.41008
Pegler D, Rayner R, 1969. A contribution to the Agaric flora of Kenya. Kew Bulletin 23: 347–412.
Pegler DN, 1969. Studies on African Agaricales: II. Kew Bulletin 23: 219–249. https://doi.org/10.2307/4108958
Pérez-Moreno J, Guerin-Laguette A, Rinaldi AC, Yu F, Verbeken A, Hernández-Santiago F, Martínez-Reyes M, 2021. Edible mycorrhizal fungi of the world: What is their role in forest sustainability, food security, biocultural conservation and climate change? Plants, People, Planet 3: 471–490. https://doi.org/10.1002/ppp3.10199
R Core Team, 2020. R: A language and environment for statistical computing. R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna, Austria.
Ramírez-Carbajal E, Martínez-Reyes M, Ayala-Vásquez O, Fabiola R, Lagunes Reyes M, Hernández-Santiago F, Rangel Villafranco M, Yu F, Pérez-Moreno J, 2025. Revitalizing endangered mycocultural heritage in Mesoamerica: The case of the Tlahuica-Pjiekakjoo culture. Plants, People, Planet. https://doi.org/10.1002/ppp3.70014
Rammeloo J, Walleyn R, 1993. The edible fungi of Africa south of the Sahara: a literature survey. Scripta Botanica Belgica 5: 1–62.
Ryvarden L, Piearce GD, Masuka AJ, 1994. An introduction to the larger fungi of South Central Africa. Baobab Books, Harare, Zimbabwe.
Salick J, Ross N, 2009. Traditional peoples and climate change. Global Environmental Change 19: 137–139. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2009.01.004
Semwal KC, Lemma H, Dhyani A, Equar G, Amhare S, 2014. Short communication: Mushroom: Nature’s treasure in Ethiopia. Momona Ethiopian Journal of Science 6: 138–147.
Singer R, 1965. Marasmius. Flore Iconographique des Champignons du Congo 14: 253–278.
Sitotaw R, Lulekal E, Abate D, 2020. Ethnomycological study of edible and medicinal mushrooms in Menge District, Asossa Zone, Benshangul Gumuz Region, Ethiopia. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine 16: 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13002-020-00361-9
Song J, Chen L, Chen F, Ye J, 2019. Edaphic and host plant factors are linked to the composition of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities in the root zone of endangered Ulmus chenmoui Cheng in China. Ecology and Evolution 9: 8900–8910. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.5446
Tafesse A, 1996. Agroecological Zones of Southwestern Ethiopia. University of Trier.
Tedersoo L, Bahram M, Põlme S, Kõljalg U, Yorou NS, Wijesundera R, Ruiz LV, Vasco-Palacios AM, Thu PQ, Suija A, Smith ME, Sharp C, et al., 2014. Global diversity and geography of soil fungi. Science 80: 346. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1256688
Tibuhwa DD, 2012a. Folk taxonomy and use of mushrooms in communities around Ngorongoro and Serengeti National Park, Tanzania. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine 8: 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1186/1746-4269-8-36
Tibuhwa DD, 2012b. Termitomyces species from Tanzania, their cultural properties and unequalled basidiospores. Journal of Biology and Life Science 3: 140–159. https://doi.org/10.5296/jbls.v3i1.1723
Tuno N, 2001. Mushroom utilization by the Majangir, an Ethiopian tribe. Mycologist 15: 78–79. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0269-915X(01)80087-2
Turner NJ, Clifton H, 2009. “It’s so different today”: Climate change and indigenous lifeways in British Columbia, Canada. Global Environmental Change 19: 180–190. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2009.01.005
van Bruggen AHC, Semenov AM, 2000. In search of biological indicators for soil health and disease suppression. Applied Soil Ecology 15: 13–24. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0929-1393(00)00068-8
Wang R, Herrera M, Xu W, Zhang P, Moreno JP, Colinas C, Yu F, 2022. Ethnomycological study on wild mushrooms in Pu’er Prefecture, Southwest Yunnan, China. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine 18: 55. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13002-022-00551-7
Yamin-Pasternak S, 2011. Ethnomycology: Fungi and mushrooms in cultural entanglements. In: Ethnobiology. Wiley-Blackwell, Hoboken, NJ.
Yorou S, Koné N, Guissou ML, Guelly A, Maba D, Ekué M, De Kesel A, 2014. Biodiversity and sustainable use of wild edible fungi in the Sudanian centre of endemism: a plea for valorization. In: Ectomycorrhizal Symbioses in Tropical and Neotropical Forests. CRC Press, pp. 241–286.
Zeleke G, Dejene T, Tadesse W, Agúndez D, Martín-Pinto P, 2020. Ethnomycological knowledge of three ethnic groups in Ethiopia. Forests 11: 875. https://doi.org/10.3390/f11080875
Copyright (c) 2025 Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
© CSIC. Manuscripts published in both the print and online versions of this journal are the property of the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, and quoting this source is a requirement for any partial or full reproduction.
All contents of this electronic edition, except where otherwise noted, are distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) licence. You may read the basic information and the legal text of the licence. The indication of the CC BY 4.0 licence must be expressly stated in this way when necessary.
Self-archiving in repositories, personal webpages or similar, of any version other than the final version of the work produced by the publisher, is not allowed.
