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Picking mushrooms and berries: how and where to get a "forest ticket"

Цей матеріал також доступний українською

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Fall is the season of mushrooms and berries. People go to "mushroom towns" not only to pick plants for their favorite dishes, but also to relax and organize beautiful photo shoots. A variety of fresh mushrooms and berries are also available in shops and markets. But picking mushrooms, berries, and other plants in the forest has its own rules.

Lawyers from the free legal aid (FLA) system explain when you can do this without a permit and when you need to get a forest ticket.

First of all, lawyers note that if you collect wild plants, flowers, berries, nuts, mushrooms, etc. for your own consumption, you do not need a special permit. However, it is prohibited to collect plants and mushrooms listed in the Red Book of Ukraine.

When a special permit is required to collect forest resources

When harvesting or using forest resources for production or commercial activities:

timber, secondary forest materials such as oleoresin, bark, woody greens and incidental forest uses such as wild fruits, nuts, mushrooms, berries, medicinal plants
grazing, placement of beehives, harvesting hay and reeds;
use of forests for cultural, recreational, sports, tourist, educational and upbringing purposes, hunting needs, and research and development.

How to obtain a special permit

To obtain a special permit - the so-called "forest ticket" - you need to: fill out an application for the use of forest resources, indicating the type (e.g., harvesting mushrooms, berries) and the volume of harvesting. This application must be submitted in person or by mail to the branch of the State Enterprise"Forests of Ukraine" or the forestry on whose territory the harvesting is planned and the rent must be paid (the payment details will be provided by the branch you have applied to). A "forest ticket" is issued after payment is confirmed. You can also submit an application electronically through the Diia or EcoSystem portal, indicating the type and volume of the resource, and pay the rent after approval.

The forestry must review the application and payment of the fee and issue a "forest ticket", which will indicate