Assessment of the present state of occurrence, threats and protection of Fomitopsis officinalis (Vill.: Fr.) Bond. and Sing. in Poland

Abstract

The Fomitopsis officinalis is the fungus remaining under strict protection since 1983. It is on the Red List of threatened fungi in Poland in the category of species endangered by extinction (E). It is also in the group of 33 threatened species proposed to be embraced by species protection at European level. All the existing localities of this species in Poland are in the area of its historical occurrence in the territory of the Świętokrzyskie and Mazowieckie provinces. In 2010, the presence of F. officinalis was detected in four seed trees in the managed larch forests in the neighbourhood of the ‘Ciechostowice’ Reserve (Skarżysko Forest District). Moreover, a new tree with fruiting bodies was found in each of the ‘Ciechostowice’ and ‘Modrzewina’ reserves. Recent data show that the fungus has infested 31 trees or parts of trees (trees with visible or just disappeared fruiting bodies). There is still a need to protect habitats and populations of F. officinalis using the passive and active protection methods