TY - JOUR AU - Robles-García, Daniel AU - Gutierrez Santillan, Tania Vianney AU - Montoya-Esquivel, Adriana AU - Sánchez-González, Arturo PY - 2023/03/29 Y2 - 2024/03/29 TI - Armillaria mellea (Vahl. : Fr.) P. Kumm. - a non-timber forest resource in the Ñhöñho culture: promoting sustainable development and ethnomycotourism JF - Ethnobotany Research and Applications JA - Ethnobot. Res. App. VL - 25 IS - SE - Research DO - UR - https://ethnobotanyjournal.org/index.php/era/article/view/4257 SP - 1-18 AB - <p><em>Background</em>. The indigenous and mestizo communities in Mexico have used <em>Armillaria mellea </em>as a non-timber forest resource, mainly as food; ecologically it is an abundant species in forests. For this reason, we establish <em>A. mellea </em>as a species with cultural importance and a high potential for the development of sustainable regional and ethnomycotourism projects.</p><p><em>Methods</em>. The field work was carried out in the <em>Ñhöñho</em> communities of Texquedó and Xahai, Querétaro; Mexico. Semi-structured surveys were applied to local specialists in collecting mushrooms. Species were identified at the taxonomic level. Participation-action workshops were held for the organization and development of ethnomycotourism events.</p><p><em>Results</em>. A total biomass of 107.11 kg of <em>A. mellea </em>was collected with the support of the “<em>hongueros</em>” (local mushroom collectors) during the rainy seasons of 2017, 2018 and 2019. A greenhouse-type solar dehydrator was designed to process the mushrooms with a minimum dehydration capacity of 30 and a maximum of 100 kg of fresh mushrooms; and value-added products were designed with edible wild mushrooms. On the other hand, tours and mushroom collections (edible and inedible) were designed with local specialists, academics and visitors; promoting and laying the foundations for the development of ethnomycotourism with an approximate economic income per year in each community of 700 to 1200 dollars. Finally, as a result of this project, the non-profit civil organization; Ethnomycology, Research and Community Development A.C.</p><p><em>Conclusion</em>. Mushrooms constitute the basis for the planning of regional sustainable projects, as means of revaluing traditional systems, and strengthening the local economy, as well as conservation and management under a biocultural approach.</p><p><em>Keywords</em>. Mycotourism, Ethnomycotourism, Value-added products, Edible wild mushrooms, Otomí, Mexico</p> ER -