Abstract
Description of the subject. This study is the first to compile the diversity of wild edible mushrooms gathered in the different ecosystems (savanna, woodland, montane forest, and exotic tree plantations) of Burundi and Rwanda and to consider this resource in a developmental framework for the region. Objectives. The aim of this study is to update the inventory of wild edible mushrooms in Burundi and Rwanda focusing on their sustainable exploitation and their potential for cultivation. Method. The inventory is based on a literature survey completed with referenced specimens gathered during field trips between 2010 and 2015 that are deposited at the Botanic Garden Meise (BR). Results. Seventy-seven species of edible mushrooms have been listed together with their habitat and ecology. This includes 39 new records of species eaten in the region, 8 of which were not previously known to be edible. An attempt to combine the protection of natural ecosystems with the development of local populations is presented in relation to the availability of these mushrooms, their ecology and cultivation potential. Conclusions. Wild edible mushrooms constitute an interesting and under-exploited resource in Burundi and Rwanda. Sustainable gathering of ectomycorrhizal species in miombo woodlands and cultivation of saprotrophic species from montane forests suggest important food issues and interesting business perspectives.
Highlights
Malnutrition is a major concern in Burundi and Rwanda
The Burundian provinces of the North and East, and the northern and western areas of Rwanda bordering Lake Kivu and along the Congo Nile Crest, are the most affected. This food deficit cannot be met by the local agriculture that is mainly in the hands of small subsistence farmers
Sampling in the region focused on mushrooms eaten locally and on species consumed in other tropical African countries cited in literature
Summary
Malnutrition is a major concern in Burundi and Rwanda. Household food security still constitutes a challenge in the region despite some recorded improvement by the UNDP (Human Development Report 2014, www.wfp. org, accessed 8 Sept 2015). Burundi and Rwanda have the highest population densities in Africa and face significant food deficits. The Burundian provinces of the North and East, and the northern and western areas of Rwanda bordering Lake Kivu and along the Congo Nile Crest, are the most affected. This food deficit cannot be met by the local agriculture that is mainly in the hands of small subsistence farmers. It is precisely these poor rural households dependent on low income agriculture or casual labor that face food insecurity
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