Natural ecosystems benefit from fungi by cycling nutrients and decomposing organic debris, but harvesting their fruit bodies is a prominent human activity. The majority of the harvested edible fruit bodies are mycorrhizal fungi, which are symbiotically beneficial to some tree species. Commercial harvesting of wild edible mushrooms is burgeoning, partially due to the rise in economic value, and its effects are of concern for ecologists, forest managers, and planners. It is important to understand the ecological, social, and economical systems that are connected to edible mushrooms in order to have an effective and sustainable management plan.