NE North Dakota News

The search for caterpillar fungus, a valuable resource in traditional Chinese medicine, poses significant risks to villagers in the Tibetan Plateau. Daile Zhang, an assistant professor of Atmospheric Sciences at the University of North Dakota, highlights the dangers associated with harvesting this fungus in her article originally published on The Conversation.

The hunt for this fungus occurs during late spring and summer when lightning strikes are prevalent. Villagers venture into mountainous regions as high as 16,400 feet above sea level, facing unpredictable weather conditions without adequate shelter from storms. Although these areas experience fewer lightning strikes than other parts of Asia, the danger remains substantial.

According to records from Chinese meteorological hazard yearbooks and government sources such as the China Meteorological Administration and the National Disaster Reduction Center of China, there have been at least 31 deaths and 58 injuries related to lightning during fungus collection over the past decade. A tragic incident in May 2022 saw seven villagers from China killed by lightning while harvesting the fungus. In another instance, three people from Nepal were injured by lightning and had to be rescued after being stranded for days.

Zhang's study with colleague Ronald Holle found that lightning fatality rates in Yushu and Garze counties are 10 to 20 times higher than China's average rates. These figures are comparable to some of Africa's most lightning-prone regions lacking safety infrastructure or education.

Villagers face additional hazards like hail, heavy rains, strong winds, wild animals, and dangerous mountain slopes. Limited communication options exacerbate these threats by preventing timely weather alerts. Despite these dangers, locals continue to collect caterpillar fungus due to its potential economic benefits amidst limited income opportunities.

Efforts to improve safety through education and infrastructure face challenges due to isolation and outdated information. The local environment also suffers from overharvesting practices that damage soil and contribute to deforestation.

To mitigate these issues, researchers are exploring cultivation methods for the fungus while governments in China, India, Nepal, and Bhutan implement regulations for sustainable harvesting. Addressing economic disparities is crucial for providing safer livelihood alternatives for these communities.

Daile Zhang emphasizes that any solution must tackle underlying inequities to prevent villagers from risking their lives in pursuit of "Himalayan gold."