Paul Stamets has been a mycologist and mushroom enthusiast since the late 1970s. He is a pioneer in the cultivation of both Psilocybe and edible mushrooms and is credited with the discovery of four new mushroom species. He has written five books on mushroom cultivation, use and identification and speaks at mycological conferences around the world. His book "Psilocybin Mushrooms of the World" is the current definitive guide on the topic.

An author of many articles and scholarly papers, Paul sees the ancient old growth forests of the Pacific Northwest as a resource of incalculable value, especially in terms of its fungal genome. Paul often describes his vision of a deeply interconnected world environment and believes that a deeper knowledge of fungi can solve many of the world's pollution problems. He has been quoted saying "mushrooms will save the world" and has coined the term "mycoremediation" to describe the use of fungus to clean up environmental problems and absorb toxins.

He is a dedicated hiker and explorer, with a passion to preserve, protect, and clone as many ancestral strains of mushrooms as possible. He is also the founder and president of Fungi Perfecti, a business selling mushroom cultivation and related products and working towards Stamets's goals.