Vast area of Belavezhskaya Pushcha closed for mushroom pickers

The Belavezhskaya Pushcha National Park administration has banned mushroom and berry picking in the park, except for some of its areas accounting for five percent of the total territory, Vecherny Brest reported.

People are allowed to pick mushrooms and berries on an area of 9,000 hectares located in the commercial and recreational zones of the forest.

The administration passed the paper to give rangers formal grounds for chasing locals and visitors away from protected areas of the forest. Now rangers are empowered to fine trespassers. Access is not restricted to woods surrounding most local villages.