At MycoTreks, we believe that travel should deepen your relationship with the ecosystems you explore. That’s why our commitment to ethical foraging and fungal conservation isn’t just policy—it’s personal. Every guest, guide, and partner plays a role in protecting the incredible biodiversity of Mexico’s cloud forests. Below is the full policy that guides our approach.

1. Purpose and Values

MycoTreks was founded on the belief that connecting people to mushrooms and their ecosystems can inspire awe, stewardship, and scientific curiosity. Our mission is to:

• Promote fungal biodiversity conservation

• Support cloud forest protection in Mexico

• Educate travelers on fungal laws, ethics, and ecology

• Build trust with local communities, scientists, and agencies

• Offer transformational experiences rooted in sustainability and respect

“We don’t travel to extract—we travel to connect: with fungi, with culture, and with the people who protect these special places.”

2. Legal and Regulatory Compliance (Mexico)

All current MycoTreks trips take place in Mexico. The following policies reflect the specific legal and conservation frameworks of the country. As we expand, this policy will evolve.

2.1 Mexican National Laws and Permits

We comply fully with:

• NOM-059-SEMARNAT-2010 (threatened and protected species)

• The General Law of Ecological Balance and Environmental Protection (LGEEPA)

• Forest Law regulations on non-timber forest products (NTFPs)

• Scientific collection only under valid SEMARNAT-issued permits

2.2 Protected Natural Areas

When near or within protected areas (Áreas Naturales Protegidas / ANPs):

• No unauthorized harvesting or interference

• All regional and federal rules are followed

• Education and ecology take precedence over extraction

2.3 Indigenous and Local Governance

• We honor ejido and Indigenous land authority

• Foraging occurs only with explicit permission

• We build long-term, respectful partnerships based on traditional ecological knowledge

2.4 Guide Training and Legal Awareness

All guides are trained in:

• Mexican species protection laws

• Legal status of psychoactive fungi

• Permit boundaries and ethics

• Community-specific rules

“We are always learning, and we welcome respectful correction or clarification from those more knowledgeable. Conservation is a shared responsibility.”

3. Protected Species & Ethical Foraging

We follow a strict non-extractive approach unless a collection is part of a legally permitted, scientist-led research initiative with clear conservation goals. We do not collect casually or for general interest—only in support of science that aims to protect fungi and the ecosystems they inhabit.

Our core principles:

• No collection of species listed in NOM-059-SEMARNAT-2010, the IUCN Red List, or those recognized as locally protected by communities or land stewards

• We voluntarily apply IUCN Red List criteria to assess risk in unlisted species, especially those that are rare, endemic, habitat-restricted, or culturally significant

• Our focus is on education, observation, and non-extractive documentation

• The only circumstance under which MycoTreks would participate in the collection of a protected species is:

  • When it is part of a permitted research initiative led or co-led by qualified mycological scientists

  • When the explicit goal of the research is to inform conservation strategy or support the long-term protection of the species in the face of real threats (e.g., climate change, habitat loss, unsustainable harvesting, or legal/illegal logging)

  • When that purpose is clearly outlined in all permit applications and discussed transparently with community partners and landowners

  • When existing public barcode data is insufficient or absent, and new data would meaningfully contribute to the scientific record

  • When the collection is minimal, non-destructive, and fully consented to by all regulatory and community authorities

Samples collected under such conditions are barcoded and shared publicly through platforms like GenBank, in alignment with open science and transparency.

4. Psychoactive Species and Drug Laws

MycoTreks does not condone or facilitate the collection, possession, or use of psychoactive mushrooms outside legal or traditional frameworks.

• We do not visit areas with known illegal harvesting

• Guests and guides are prohibited from handling these species

• We promote respectful dialogue within legal and cultural boundaries

5. Education and Citizen Science

Our trips include immersive learning about:

• The role of fungi in ecosystems and culture

• Conservation ethics and fungal law

• Use of iNaturalist for citizen science

• Guest contributions to fungal barcoding (when permitted)

6. Local Partnerships and Community Support

We prioritize collaboration with:

• Local guides, interpreters, and foragers

• Mexican scientists and conservationists

• Communities who share their land and knowledge

We pay fair wages, support local economies, and uplift community expertise.

7. Transparency and Accountability

This policy applies to all staff, guests, and partners.

Violations—such as unauthorized collecting or disrespecting land agreements—may result in:

• Immediate corrective action

• Removal from the trip

• Exclusion from future MycoTreks events

We invite accountability and input from scientists, land stewards, and the public.

8. Funding and Sustainability

As a small independent ecotourism company, MycoTreks is sustained by:

• Trip fees (for guides, operations, and logistics)

• Donations (for science, conservation, and outreach)

Our future goals include:

• Microgrants for local mycology partners

• Forest protection efforts

• Tools and resources for open science

9. A Living Commitment

This policy is reviewed regularly and will evolve as we grow. Future destinations will reflect:

• New legal frameworks

• Regionally appropriate conservation practices

• Our continual growth as ethical, learning-focused guides

“Our commitment is not just to fungi—but to the people, places, and ecosystems that sustain them.”

Last Revised on 05/13/2025