DURANGO – The San Juan National Forest offers permits for collecting everything from corral and tepee poles, firewood, fence stays, walking sticks and Christmas trees to boughs, pine cones, medicinal plants, berries, mushrooms, transplants, native plant seeds, basket-making materials and decorative plants.

To keep track of and disperse the impacts of an increasing demand for such natural products, the permits include guidelines that help ensure those gathering the forest’s bounty don’t affect its beauty or its ability to offer those products into the future.

“The permitting process allows us to prevent overharvest in certain areas, provide guidance on sustainable harvest practices and offer tips for the best places to collect different products,” said Gretchen Fitzgerald, Columbine District forester.

Incidental amounts of forest products, such as berries or mushrooms, may be collected for personal use without a permit; however, products collected for personal use cannot be sold. Commercial permits are needed to collect larger products for resale purposes. A permit is also needed when any activity involves the killing of a plant or tree. Prices vary, depending on quantity and product.

“We do our best to accommodate requests,” said Columbine District Forester Beth Vance. “We just ask folks to follow the rules so they don’t damage the forest in the process.”

Protect the beauty when collecting the bounty of the forest:

Harvest is not allowed in wilderness areas, developed campgrounds or picnic areas.Do not disturb or compact soils. Fill in any holes and step lightly. Spread out your impacts and don’t strip an area bare. Do not break branches from trees or tear up bushes. Try to harvest from areas that are already disturbed.When harvesting posts, poles or firewood, cut stumps low and scatter slash away from roads and drainages. Harvest only what you need or can reasonably use. If collecting edible products, leave some behind to feed wildlife. Collect mushrooms in a mesh bag or open-weave basket to allow them to spore while you harvest, and cover the hole where the stem was with forest litter or damp soil to protect the mycelium from drying out. Never collect threatened, endangered or sensitive plants or fungi. Do not eat or collect wild plants or mushrooms unless you are certain of the species. Do not drive off roads, create ruts or leave trash.Revisit and monitor the effects of your harvest. Study how the plants respond. For more information, go to http://bit.ly/2w0V4zf.