If you had to choose one of these mushroom species to feed your family, would you make the right choice? 

One is edible, the other is fatally poisonous.

If you chose the mushroom on the left (Amanita Citrina, the False Death Cap, you and your loved ones would be in grave danger. If you chose the ones on the right (Amanita chepangiana), you would be safe - until your next meal.

Unfortunately, children in Nepal are forced to face this decision every day without any knowledge of which mushrooms may poison their entire family.

In Nepal, people are being fatally poisoned as they try to provide for their families during the COVID-19 pandemic by foraging for mushrooms.

The COVID-19 crisis in Nepal has severely increased food insecurity in marginalized rural communities, causing an unprecedented number of people to turn to harvesting wild mushrooms from forests for food.

Due to the relative inexperience and desperation of these new collectors, many are being fatally poisoned by toxic mushrooms that resemble edible varieties. 

Fortunately, YOU can help prevent these deaths.

The Himalayan Climate & Science Institute (HCSI), in partnership with The Mushroom Club of Georgia, needs funds for a large-scale public education campaign on how to avoid toxic mushrooms and treat poisonings. 

We can't do it without YOU. With just two small actions, you can help prevent a mass poisoning today.

1. Donate - Every contribution helps prevent more deaths and more broken families. You never know how many people a single anti-poisoning poster will save. 

2. Share - Multiply your impact by sharing this urgent project with others. The more people who donate, the more at-risk people can be reached. Use the social media buttons above to share this page!

When you get involved, we'll keep you updated on how your support is directly helping people on the ground in Nepal.

What is the Himalayan Climate & Science Institute?

HCSI supports community-based science with local, regional, and global benefits. You can find more information on HCSI, its work, and this project here: https://hcsi-nepal.org/.