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Why keep records?
It is likely that many of the fungi in your local region are yet to be discovered. Therefore it is a good idea to get together as much information about them as possible. Your own observations and notes about local native fungi are valuable sources of information for future surveys, accumulation of scientific knowledge about local fungi, conservation management, and for accessing native fungi as a resource for revegetation. It is important to make this information freely available to people. Application of native fungi for revegetation or other purposes has not yet developed a commercial edge like that of the native seed collection industry.
Data about fungi and their environment, particularly associated plants and soil, needs to be recorded at the time of collection, as it is often impossible to retrieve such data at a later date. Shapes, textures and colours and other features are required for identifying fungi and these need to be recorded with fungi in their fresh condition. Fungal and environmental information may be translated into a valuable database about particular fungi. The value of the information may be greatly enhanced by preservation of fungal fruit bodies in a herbarium.
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