The Last Straw

“Ten years ago, all of our families had livestock with a few milk cows, pigs, and goats each, but now the families can only manage to raise some pigs. Due to the drought, there is insufficient fodder growth around the village to support cows, and only three families keep goats now (about 20 goats per family). Similarly, from a village crop production of rain-fed potatoes, wheat, and maize 10 years ago, now only potatoes can be grown in the dry conditions. However, potato production is still meager and only provides a subsistence crop. The forested slopes on the village mountain have traditionally been a reliable source of medicinal plants and forest food. Medicinal plants are especially valuable as they provide a good cash income when sold at the market but due to a growing need by villagers for these during the droughts, the forest’s resources are overexploited with no medicinal plants now. Life is very hard for Qi Ping people these days.”

Village headman in Qi Ping village, Yunnan, China

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