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| Jérôme Degreef |
The Botanic Garden Meise has a long
tradition of research with African mushrooms both in West-Africa (Benin, Togo)
and Central-Africa (Gabon, Democratic Republic of the Congo).
Jérôme Degreef, Director of the Department
of Cryptogamy - APM, will lead the scientific part of the expedition that
will be supported by the local experts Ms Assoumpta Mukandera and Gudula
Nyirandayambaje. Both have extensive
experience and knowledge of mycology.
They will be accompanied by Franck Hidvegi, press officer, Botanic
Garden Meise. He will be responsible for making a report of our mission.
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| Assoumpta Mukandera (left) and Gudula Nyirandayambaje (right) |
The mycological research carried out by the
APM in tropical Africa has resulted in the description of some 200 species of
edible mushrooms and has already demonstrated their importance as a source of
food for the local population (De Kesel et al., 2003; Eyi et al., 2011; Rammeloo
and Walleyn, 1993). In the neighbouring
country Burundi, 43 edible species were found, mostly in the forested areas in
the vicinity of Lake Tanganyika and along the Tanzanian border (Nzigidahera, 2007). This inventory has
recently been added to by another 8 species which were harvested in the
mountain forests of the National Park of Kibira, which runs along the border
with Rwanda (Degreef, unpublished).
Taking into account these previous findings, the Botanic Garden expects
to report similar results in Rwanda.
During a first mission to Rwanda a
provisional list of some 10 species of edible mushrooms were found in secondary
forests and savannah, half of which were saprotrophic (Mukandera, 2011). A more detailed investigation in Burundi brought
to light many more species of mushrooms.
Several species which were identified in Rwanda were also found in
Burundi, whilst other species were unique to Rwanda. Based on these findings,
we can expect that a number of new species will be found in Rwanda or even
species that are new to science. The
presence of a number of unidentified Oyster mushrooms in Burundi and Rwanda
must be further investigated, because these saprotrophic mushrooms are possible
candidates for cultivation in Rwanda.
The field work will consist of the
systematic listing of all species of mushrooms which may be edible (these belong
to our target group – see edible mushrooms) or to those which have already been
demonstrated as edible because they are eaten by the local population. This is the first time that such a basic
research is carried out into the mycological potential of Rwanda.
The APM is also a center of expertise when
it comes to providing mycological training.
This it does by organising a whole range of scientific courses for
scientists, technicians and rangers in parks across West- and Central Africa
(Benin, Cameroon, Gabon, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Burundi).
But we will not forget the park rangers in
Rwanda. Our mycologists will train the
rangers as we collect mushrooms and pass on the knowledge on how to identify
and describe mushrooms in their own local working environment. In this way, local knowledge will be enhanced
with positive results for the continuing efforts to preserve the local mycological
treasures of Rwanda -- long after our mycologists have returned to their
laboratories in Meise.
More info : www.botanicgarden.be
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