Caserta. Inside the WWF Oasis Bosco di San Silvestro, part of the Park of the Royal Palace of Caserta, the Carabinieri Forestali surprised a man intent on illegally collecting porcini mushrooms and chanterelles.
The man, after having climbed over the surrounding wall of the nature reserve, was found in possession of approximately 7 kg of mushrooms belonging to the “chanterelle” species ( Cantharellus cibarius ) and the porcini species ( Boletus edilius ).
Francesco Paolella, director of the WWF Oasis, a member of the WWF Italy foundation, was also called to the scene and confirmed that no authorization for the harvest had been granted.
The incident led to the seizure of the mushrooms and the reporting of the man for several crimes: illegal entry into a protected area, aggravated theft of state property and defacement of natural beauty.
The man had collected 7 kilograms of mushrooms
To promote the regeneration of the forest, the Carabinieri Forestali, in collaboration with the WWF, chopped up the confiscated mushrooms and scattered them in the area, thus promoting the dispersion of spores and the growth of new mushrooms.
This action was taken to protect the biodiversity of the WWF Oasis and underlines the importance of respecting the rules that protect natural areas.
We hope that gestures like this will raise awareness among people about the importance of respecting protected areas and nature in general.