Forest ecosystems have globally decreased due to forest management and other anthropogenic activities (FAO 2010). In Africa, the population explosion and rapid urbanisation are major threats to forest degradation, as they increase the dependence of the population on Non-Timber Forest Products and wood resources (Bâ et al., 2012; Diagne et al., 2013).  Several studies have shown that ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi (fungi that form a symbiotic relationship with plants) are directly and severely affected by logging because of their dependence on living host trees (Luoma et al., 2004; Jones et al., 2003; Harvey et al., 1980). As a result, many populations of ECM fungal species are threatened; endemic species may even go to extinction. Lactarius foetens is one of the threatened species listed on the Benin Red List as Critically Endangered. In order to save this species from this fate, this project was initiated and funded by the Mohamed bin zayed species conservation fund (Project number: 192520581).