Romanian mushroom foragers active in Polish Beskid forests

Groups of mushroom foragers from Romania have been identified operating in the forests of the Podkarpackie region, specifically within the Beskid Niski area. According to the Regional Directorate of State Forests (RDLP) in Krosno, these individuals are transported to forest areas at dawn in vehicles with Romanian registration plates and collected in the evening.

The harvested mushrooms are reportedly peeled, sorted, and packed into crates for export. While the act of gathering forest products is not prohibited under Polish law for EU citizens, forest services have reported issues including unauthorized vehicle entries into forest areas and littering. In the Dukla and Rymanów forest districts, forest guards issued eight fines to Romanian citizens for illegal forest access.

Local foragers have expressed concerns regarding the large numbers of people moving through the woods in groups, which has created a sense of unease. However, forest officials noted that while the foragers are often economically disadvantaged, there have been no recorded instances of dangerous behavior or threats directed at local residents during this season.