On May 11, 2023, the Ancient Tea Tree Conservation Fund of the China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation (CBCGDF) organized a team to visit GuLin QinKaShang Village in Maguan County, Wenshan Zhuang and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province for field survey. The purpose of this field visit was to understand the current situation of local ancient tea tree resources, promote sustainable management of ancient tea trees, and encourage sustainable economic development in the region.
According to local villagers, the ancient tea tree resources here are very precious, with trees ranging from several hundred to over a thousand years old and distributed on both sides of the 40-kilometer Tea Horse Ancient Road. Among them, there are over 19,000 wild ancient tea trees in more than 3,000 acres of bushy forest. Director Li Yiming of the Ancient Tea Tree Conservation Fund led the investigation team to witness the magnificent sight of these tea trees in the primeval forest of GuLin Jing.
During the field visit, the team found that some ancient tea trees had been infested by pests and diseases and needed timely prevention and treatment. At the same time, although GuLin Jing has abundant tea resources, most tea farmers lack scientific planting and management skills, leading to unstable tea quality, which affects the sustainable development of the local tea industry.
Ancient tea trees are considered precious genetic resources for several reasons. First, they are a living legacy of natural history, representing a unique and diverse gene pool that has evolved over thousands of years. Second, they possess unique genetic characteristics that are not found in modern tea cultivars, making them important for breeding and developing new tea varieties. Third, they are often grown in biodiverse environments and contribute to the conservation of ecosystems and wildlife habitats. Fourth, they are culturally significant, being an important part of the heritage and identity of many communities that have depended on them for centuries. Finally, they have been shown to produce teas that are of exceptional quality and taste, with some ancient tea trees producing teas that can sell for hundreds or even thousands of dollars per kilogram.
Ancient tea trees are not only precious agricultural resources but also cultural heritage. The tea from KaShang is well-known for its excellent quality, and tea production has become the foundation for local people to increase their income. Li Yiming said that Chinese leader has pointed out that promoting Chinese-style modernization requires comprehensive promotion of rural revitalization. Protecting ancient tea tree resources is an important measure to protect the Earth's ecosystem. At the same time, scientific management and reasonable utilization of tea resources are also the only way to achieve rural revitalization.
In addition, the Ancient Tea Tree Conservation Fund plans to cooperate with relevant departments to incorporate the protection and development of GuLin Qin's tea trees into its key work plan and issue a certificate for genetic resources protection. The fund will also work with local villagers to strengthen pest and disease prevention and control of tea trees, promote and apply green pest control technologies such as biological control, and provide better growth environments and protection measures for tea trees. The fund's director believes that with the joint efforts of the Ancient Tea Tree Conservation Fund and all stakeholders, this precious cultural and ecological resource of the "ancient tea tree" will receive better protection and development.
Reported by Tong Yao
Translated by Xiaoai
Editor:Daisy
Contact: v10@cbcgdf.org; +8617319454776
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