Third annual Newfoundland and Labrador Mushroom Foray gets underway

Tom Osborne, Minister of Environment and Conservation, today announced that the third annual Newfoundland and Labrador Mushroom Foray takes place September 2-5 at the Killdevil Lodge, Gros Morne National Park and September 6-9 in the Labrador Straits.

Approximately 50 mushroom enthusiasts from Newfoundland and Labrador and around the world will converge to these locations where they will spend time foraging, collecting and identifying mushrooms from a variety of habitats. The participants will be guided by local and international experts in the identification of collected specimens.

�I want to take this opportunity to extend my best wishes to all participants attending this year�s Newfoundland and Labrador Foray for an enjoyable and productive event, as well as congratulate the Humber Natural History Society for its great work in organizing the foray again this year,� said Minister Osborne. �It is especially pleasing to see the 2005 foray extend to Labrador where very little is known of mushrooms from that region.�

The minister added that events like the Mushroom Foray help enrich our knowledge and understanding of species diversity, abundance and distribution. �Indeed the work of the participants during this year�s foray will greatly enhance the knowledge of flora in our province. My department is proud to be part of this exciting event, and I encourage more Newfoundlanders and Labradorians to get involved in future forays.�

Minister Osborne also wished participants visiting from outside the province a pleasant and memorable stay in Newfoundland and Labrador.

More information on the 2005 Mushroom Foray is available at //www.swgc.mun.ca/hnhs or by calling Andrus Votik, Humber Natural History Society, (709) 636-2267.

Media contact: Sonia Glover, Communications (709) 729-2575, 685-6612

2005 09 01                      12:05 p.m.