Global petition to save unique mushroom collection in Zagreb
- by croatiaweek
- in News
(Photo: Mushroom Museum)
A valuable heritage recognized by nature enthusiasts and experts worldwide seeks permanent protection from the Croatian government and support from city authorities through a global petition.
ZAGREB, April 4, 2025 – Following a successful awareness campaign in March 2025, members of the Kamilo Blagaić Mycological Society (GDKB) in Zagreb have launched a global petition today to protect and preserve the Mushroom Collection as a cultural and intellectual asset of global significance.
The Mushroom Museum and Educational Center, which operated successfully for nearly twelve years, was temporarily closed in December 2024 by order of the Public Institution for Nature of the City of Zagreb.
This closure followed a state decision to reclaim ownership of the property, previously designated as a public space for the Museum and Educational Center, and restore it to its original condition prior to its adaptation for exhibition and educational purposes.
Efforts by GDKB members, supported by experts and major Croatian media outlets, to engage in direct dialogue with authorities have yielded no results.
Communication has remained entangled in bureaucracy, with no acknowledgment of the core issue—the permanent protection and public accessibility of the Collection.
(Photo: Mushroom Museum)
Given the lack of local institutional response, it appears that the current authorities do not recognize the Collection as a significant heritage asset. However, thanks to global connectivity, GDKB members have quickly confirmed that the international community sees the potential loss of this Collection as an irreparable cultural and intellectual loss.
The Kamilo Blagaić Mycological Society urges the global public to support this cause by signing the petition—a direct democratic tool—to highlight the importance of preserving this unique Collection, which extends beyond local interests and administrative structures.
The Society also calls for immediate and constructive dialogue between city and state institutions to ensure the continuity of the Mushroom Museum’s work and the scientific collaboration of GDKB members, as originally envisioned in the Museum’s mission, goals, and the guidelines set forth by the late Professor Romano Božac.
(Photo: Mushroom Museum)
The Educational Center “World of Mushrooms – Prof. Dr. Romano Božac” was founded in 2013 to educate the public on the hidden richness of the so-called Third Kingdom of Fungi, with a special focus on poisoning prevention.
The Collection includes nearly 1,600 mushroom specimens preserved through a unique lyophilization process pioneered by Prof. Dr. Romano Božac.
According to available research, this Zagreb-based collection is unparalleled in the world in terms of its composition and scope.
(Photo: Mushroom Museum)
About Prof. Dr. Romano Božac (1942–2020) A pioneer of the mycological movement in Croatia, Romano Božac founded the first mycological society, Kamilo Blagaić, in Zagreb. He established the Department of Mycology at the Faculty of Agriculture, authored numerous books, manuals, and the Mushroom Encyclopedia, and was an active educator and researcher.
He organized Croatia’s first mushroom exhibitions and hosted TV programs on mycology. In 1997, he was awarded the International Cultural Diploma of Honor by the American Biographical Institute for his exceptional contributions to the development of mycology in Croatia.
About Kamilo Blagaić (1861–1933) Kamilo Blagaić, after whom Croatia’s first mycological society was named, was a passionate nature enthusiast with a deep interest in mushrooms.
(Photo: Mushroom Museum)
He authored the first book on mushrooms in the Croatian language. As a respected intellectual and polyglot, he was a member of the “Brotherhood of the Croatian Dragon” and took the honorary name “Zmaj Blagajski” (Dragon of Blagai).
Contact: savefungizagreb@gmail.com
For further information and to sign the petition, visit
https://form.jotform.com/250917116515050
