Anyone caught damaging trees on public property in the District of North Vancouver could face a $500 fine under the tree protection bylaw.
That's a reminder from district parks staff, who recently received a troubling report from a Deep Cove resident who witnessed a trio of people harvesting bagfuls of tree fungi.
Linda Del Rosario says she was walking her dog in Cove Forest last month when she crossed paths with a man carrying a heavy bundle on his shoulder. An unusual sight on the local trails, she says she followed him until he approached a nearby tree.
"I saw him take a hatchet with these two other women and start hacking away at one of the pieces of fungi," Del Rosario says.
At that point, she noticed his sack was full of the mushroom-like material, she says.
"I was just so appalled that someone was in the forest harvesting in a public park and especially these things that I walk by and admire on a daily basis practically."
Del Rosario snapped some photos with her phone and sent the evidence to the district.
According to district staff, the substances in question are known as conks - also called shelf fungi or bracket fungi - and are found growing on tree trunks and limbs, stumps, fallen logs, and even on structural lumber. Shelf fungi are recyclers in forest ecosystems. In the process of decomposing woody material, they recycle nutrients, build soil and create habitats for birds, mammals and insects. Most conks are inedible because they are tough and corky or woody, but some are collected for their medicinal value or for smoking mixtures, while others are collected for decorative and artistic uses.
Susan Rogers, section manager of district parks planning, construction and environmental services, says she can't be sure of the intended use in this situation, but suspects there may be a commercial application.
"Because why else would you be harvesting bags full of it?" she says.
Of particular concern is the fact the conks were lopped off with a hatchet, causing damage to the bark layer of the trees.
Rogers says she has heard rumours of this activity, but it has only now been confirmed. She says the district is looking into solutions and is contacting other municipal parks departments to see if fungi harvesting on public land is an issue elsewhere.
"It could be the tip of the iceberg, or it could just be an isolated event," Rogers says.
In the short-term, the district plans to install educational signs in affected parks. Anyone who witnesses people removing fungal conks should call district bylaw enforcement at 604-990-2400 and an officer will be dispatched. "Our bylaws are there for good reason and they're really there to try and protect our parkland for us and also future generations," Rogers says.
