22.04.2026 21:06
In the Araç district of Kastamonu, an abundance of morel mushrooms, which sell for 1,000 Turkish Lira per kilogram fresh and 7,000 TL dried, is being experienced in the 2,736-hectare area damaged by last year's fire. Citizens are heading to the burned forest area for morel mushrooms, which have become a source of income for villagers.
In the fires that broke out in the Araç district of Kastamonu on September 1, 2025, a total of 2,736 hectares of land were damaged, including approximately 2,078 hectares of forest area and 658 hectares of agricultural land. In the areas burned in the fire, which was brought under control in 4 days, felling work continues after damage assessment studies.
ABUNDANCE OF MOREL MUSHROOMS IN THE BURNED FOREST AREA With the spring rains, an abundance of morel mushrooms has begun to appear in the damaged forest areas. The morel mushroom, which was rarely seen in previous years due to drought, is bringing smiles to the faces of citizens this year, especially in forest areas damaged by fire.
FRESH ONES GO FOR A THOUSAND, DRIED ONES FOR 7 THOUSAND TL The morel mushroom, whose fresh kilogram sells for a thousand TL and dried for 7 thousand TL, has become a source of income for the villagers. It was stated that citizens who heard about the abundance of mushrooms came to the region from Kastamonu city center and Karabük to collect mushrooms.
"I TRAVEL 100 KILOMETERS TO COLLECT MUSHROOMS" Salih Başçı, who came from the city center to the district to collect mushrooms, said, "Our village suffered a major disaster last year. There was a complete fire in our forests, the fire came all the way to our village, everything burned. Our paradise turned into hell. Smoke rose from everywhere, affecting our animals, us, everything. Thanks to our state, we saved our homes and animals from the fire. Now, mushrooms called morels have emerged in our burned forests. These have become our natural source of livelihood. I worked in the bakery business, I wake up at 3:00 AM, after making my bagels, I travel about 100 kilometers to come to my village, I collect mushrooms. I collect mushrooms both to eat and to sell. They buy them from us for a thousand liras per kilogram. By collecting the morels given by God from the forest, we create a good source of livelihood for ourselves. Our sisters, our youth, everyone living in our village comes to our burned forests to collect these mushrooms."
Başçı, stating that they are trying to lower the price of the morel mushroom, which is abundant in the burned forest, said, "I think because all the forested areas in our village burned, there are mushrooms everywhere, our mushrooms are plentiful. The morel mushroom is a mushroom that emerges in April and loves the sun. Because the mushroom is abundant, its price is dropping, but when you look on social media, it is even sold in dollars."
"MOREL MUSHROOMS ARE EXPORTED TO COUNTRIES LIKE FRANCE, ITALY, GERMANY" Abdullah Keleş, who said that the mushroom grows more in burned forest areas, stated, "Morel mushrooms grow more in burned places. We also earn our livelihood by collecting mushrooms in burned places. Its price per kilogram is very cheap around here. They have dropped it to 600 liras. I was selling it for a thousand liras, and now they have dropped it to 600 liras. Mushrooms with burnt tops are also very cheap, they buy them for 300 liras per kilogram. We see on the internet, they are sold for 3-4 thousand liras. They say a plate of its meal in France costs 100 dollars. This mushroom is exported. In Antalya, in Alanya, its price varies between 1,700-2,000 liras. For some reason, they buy it very cheaply in the Kastamonu region. I think they buy it cheap themselves and sell it expensive themselves."