NLIS 2
October 3, 2003
(Tourism, Culture and Recreation) 

 

Newfoundland Foray 2003

Julie Bettney, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, announced today the launch of the First Annual Newfoundland Fall Mushroom Foray, taking place in Gros Morne National Park, and running through to Sunday. The event is organized by the Humber Natural History Society and sponsored jointly by the Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, City of Corner Brook, Parks Canada, and the Western Newfoundland Model Forest.

"Newfoundland and Labrador is home to some of the most fascinating and accessible plants and animals in North America," said Minister Bettney. "But, not much is known about the species of mushrooms that inhabit this province, and that makes this weekend a wonderful step toward identifying what must be hundreds of different species. This is also an excellent opportunity for discovering new species and determining whether any are rare or endangered."

Experts from Newfoundland and Labrador, Ontario, Estonia and the United States will work with about 50 mushroom enthusiasts over the weekend in collecting, identifying and preserving mushrooms. These specimens will then be labeled and put on display at Sir Wilfred Grenfell College, Memorial University of Newfoundland�s campus in Corner Brook. The Foray participants will also attend special lectures as part of their weekend program.

"This is very exciting," said Andrus Voitk, president of the Humber Natural History Society. "Other areas have very well known forays where mushroom enthusiasts from all over the continent gather to learn. We have a wealth of mushrooms with many interesting, rare, and unique species, so a foray in Newfoundland and Labrador should become a major attraction. If you add our spectacular scenery, this could easily become one of the most popular forays in North America. The fact that several foreign experts were willing to donate their time for our first foray proves that point."

Because the mushrooms the group will collect are to be identified and displayed in an exhibit for public viewing, Gros Morne National Park issued Newfoundland Foray 2003 a scientific collecting permit.

"I thank Parks Canada for allowing us to host the Foray in this beautiful national park and UNESCO World Heritage Site," said Gary Norris, Deputy Minister of the Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation. "Newfoundland Foray 2003 will provide us with invaluable information about one of this province�s least-known life forms. Fungi play an extremely important role in decomposition and in regulating forest productivity. These annual forays will help us understand the diversity, distribution, and role of fungi in our forests."

Media contact: Vanessa Colman-Sadd, Communications, (709) 729-0857

2003 10 03                                        12:05 p.m.


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