Percepción y valoración social de los macrohongos en la vida cotidiana

Macrofungi are present in daily life in various forms; however, despite their fundamental role in the environment, they often go unnoticed, a phenomenon known as "mycological blindness", that is, a distorted perception that associates them primarily with harmful organisms and disease. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate society’s perceptions and valuations of macrofungi through structured questionnaires using a qualitative?quantitative approach. Data were collected through a 20-question survey administered via Google Forms and distributed on social media platforms (WhatsApp and Instagram). A total of 300 responses were obtained from 55 cities across the five regions of Brazil. Among the participants, 69.7% reported being familiar with the concept of macrofungi, and 80% had prior knowledge of mushrooms. Backyards were the most commonly reported location for observing these organisms (91.3%), with 38.7% of respondents indicating that they observed them “sometimes.” Most respondents (76.7%) associated macrofungi with decomposition, and 88% recognized their benefits to society. The primary reported use was as food (63%); however, more than 50% indicated limited contact with these organisms, and the majority reported that they did not destroy them when encountered. These findings highlight that, despite positive perceptions such as curiosity and admiration, macrofungi still face stigma related to toxicity and are undervalued. Although their ecological, nutritional, and medicinal contributions are widely recognized, macrofungi remain secondary in conservation and environmental awareness efforts. These results underscore the importance of environmental education programs to promote greater interaction with macrofungi.