YENİLEBİLİR YABANİ MANTAR TİCARETİNDE TOPLAYICI VE ARACILARIN ROLÜ: İSTANBUL ORMAN BÖLGE MÜDÜRLÜĞÜ ÖRNEĞİ

: In this study conducted within the boundaries of the Istanbul Regional Directorate of Forestry, the role of collectors and intermediaries in the trade of wild edible mushrooms was examined. In this context, face-to-face surveys were conducted with 312 collectors and 56 intermediaries operated within the boundaries of Kırklareli, Demirköy, Çatalca, Vize, Tekirdağ and Şile Forestry Operation Directorates affiliated to the Istanbul Regional Directorate of Forestry. It was determined that the most collected and used mushroom species by participant collectors were as Boletus spp. (porcini, bolete), Amanita caesarea (Caesar's mushroom), Hydnum repandum (hedgehog), Craterellus cornucopioides (black trumpet), Chanterellus cibarius (girolle) and Lactarius spp . (milkcap). It has observed that collectors benefit from mushrooms to selling commercial products, earning income and consuming them for their own needs. It has seen that collectors have low potential to sell mushrooms by converting them into the products. It has determined that 95% of the intermediaries working in mushroom collecting are men and 5% are women. The intermediaries were seen to sell mushrooms mostly to mushroom processing plants. In mushroom trade, it has been determined that legal documentations are mostly issued on behalf of intermediaries (84%), and in some cases documents are issued on behalf of the buyer (16%). It has been determined that 91% of the intermediaries, who have an important role in the mushroom trade, do not have any small or medium-sized facilities or units. The annual average mushroom harvesting income per collector has calculated as 6.128,47 Turkish Liras (TL). It has been determined that the annual average mushroom harvesting cost per collector is 385 TL and the largest share in the expense belongs to the transportation cost. It has calculated that the annual average mushroom harvesting income per intermediary is 16,032.83 TL. It has been determined that the annual average expense per intermediary is 3,878 TL and the highest cost item is the transportation cost.