Ukrainians can be fined for collecting mushrooms and berries: when it is provided by law

With the arrival of the mushroom and berry season, thousands of Ukrainians head to the forests without considering that the use of forest resources is regulated by legislation. For most citizens, collecting mushrooms, berries, or medicinal plants for personal needs does not require any additional documents.

At the same time, in some cases, such activity is considered special use of forest resources and requires obtaining the appropriate permit — a forest ticket.

We explain when you can freely collect forest gifts and when it is necessary to obtain permit documents and pay rent fees.

When mushrooms and berries can be collected without a permit

Citizens have the right to collect wild plants, flowers, berries, nuts, mushrooms, and other natural resources in forests without special permits if they are used exclusively for personal consumption.

However, there are restrictions. In particular, it is prohibited to collect plants and mushrooms listed in the Red Book of Ukraine.

In which cases a forest ticket is required

A special permit is needed when forest resources are used for production, entrepreneurial, or other economic activities.

A forest ticket must be obtained, in particular, for:

• timber harvesting;
• use of secondary forest materials, including stumps, bark, and green wood;
• grazing livestock;
• placing apiaries;
• hay harvesting;
• harvesting wild fruits, nuts, mushrooms, berries, medicinal plants, and reeds for economic needs;
• use of forests for cultural, recreational, sports, tourism, and educational activities;
• hunting management needs;
• conducting scientific research.

How to obtain a forest ticket

To issue a special permit, an application for the use of forest resources must be submitted.

The application must specify:

• the type of resource planned to be harvested (e.g., mushrooms or berries);
• the volume of harvesting;
• other information provided by the application procedure.

The application should be submitted to the branch of the State Enterprise "Forests of Ukraine" or to the relevant forestry office in the area where harvesting is planned.

What the forest ticket contains

After reviewing the application, the authorized body makes a decision on issuing the forest ticket.

The document specifies:

• the permitted type of forest resource;
• the volume of its use;
• the place of harvesting;
• the rent fee rate;
• the total payment amount.

After receiving the details, the applicant must pay the rent fee. The forest ticket is issued after payment confirmation.

For what period the permit is issued

The forest ticket is issued annually, taking into account established limits on the use of forest resources. This document confirms the right to special use of forest resources in specified volumes and in a specific territory.

Thus, no permit is required for ordinary collection of mushrooms, berries, or nuts for personal needs. However, if it concerns commercial harvesting or other types of special use of forest resources, such activity is illegal without a forest ticket.

What responsibility threatens for illegal collection

Violation of the rules for using forest resources may result in disciplinary, administrative, civil, or even criminal liability. This is provided for by Article 105 of the Forest Code of Ukraine.

In particular, liability arises for unauthorized harvesting of wild fruits, nuts, mushrooms, berries, medicinal plants, as well as for other violations of the rules for using forest resources.

According to Article 70 of the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offenses, unauthorized collection of wild fruits, nuts, mushrooms, berries, and other forest resources in areas where such activity is prohibited or allowed only with a forest ticket entails a fine for citizens ranging from one to three non-taxable minimum incomes (from 17 to 51 UAH), and for officials — from three to seven non-taxable minimum incomes (from 51 to 119 UAH).

The same fines are provided for collecting wild fruits, nuts, mushrooms, and berries in violation of established harvesting periods.

In addition to the fine, violators may be required to compensate for damages caused to the forest economy if such damages are established.

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