SECTION 1.

 The Legislature hereby finds and declares all of the following:

(a) Mushrooms are the fruiting bodies of fungi, ancient and long-lived organisms that sustain life on Earth in a variety of ways.

(b) Mushrooms are important for both wildlife and people. Their extensive belowground networks nourish forests and grasslands via symbiotic connections with plant roots. They decompose dead wood, improve groundwater quality and quantity, store carbon in soil, and play a critical role in climate resilience and healthy soils.

(c) Since time immemorial, diverse human cultures have treasured and utilized mushrooms. Increasingly, we look to mushrooms and fungi for innovative environmental solutions, ranging from the creation of sustainable materials and food sources to the implementation of low-cost bioremediation of toxic waste and contaminated soils.

(d) California is home to an uncounted diversity of mushroom species. New species are discovered even as many others are threatened by habitat loss, climate change, and other factors. Recognition of a state mushroom honors the manifold cultural, economic, and ecological roles mushrooms play in California.

(e) Cantharellus californicus, known as the California Golden Chanterelle, is a commonly collected edible mushroom found beneath California oak trees. Long loved by Californians, scientists recently recognized it as a unique endemic species. Thus, Cantharellus californicus is a symbol of the rich and special biodiversity of California.

(f) Naming Cantharellus californicus as the official state mushroom of California will promote appreciation, education, and study of mushrooms in this state.