Local communities’ perceptions of wild edible plant and mushroom change: A systematic review

Abstract

The use of wild edible plants and mushrooms can help to counteract the homogenisation of diets and decreasing resilience of food systems. We performed a systematic review to consolidate information about perceptions of wild edible plant and mushroom changes from the perspective of local communities. We found that 92% of all perceived changes of wild edibles relate to their decreased abundance. 76% of the wild edibles with perceived decreased abundance are fruits and vegetables and 23% crop wild relatives. The main drivers of decreased abundance are perceived to be land use change (38% of all taxa) and direct exploitation (31%). These changes have potential negative implications on food systems from local to global scales.