Paper short abstract:

Tea is a cultural keystone species and is being impacted by climate change. This paper explores indigenous knowledge, responses and adaptations to climate change. Consensus and decision models were developed to explore future scenarios.

Paper long abstract:

Tea (Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze) is an important cultural keystone species for indigenous communities in the Southern Highlands of Yunnan, China. Widespread economic growth and the rise of a consumer class in China has led to a great demand for tea grown by indigenous communities in small plots following organic principles. While production has increased in the region, demand has exceeded this growth. Climate change in the region is having an impact on crop quality and production. This paper explores indigenous knowledge of climate change in the region and details farmers' responses and adaptations. Specific questions include: How do tea farmers perceive the effects of climate on their agro-ecosystems and crop quality? What are shared farmer perceptions and knowledge on climate change? What cultural, cooperative and socio-economic variables are associated with greater farmer adaptive capacity to climate change? Farmer surveys exploring knowledge, social networks, perceptions, practices and decisions regarding tea management in the context of climate variability and socio-environmental change are presented. Cultural consensus analysis identified characteristics that allow farmers to perceive and adapt to changing climatic conditions. We explore future scenarios using ethnographic decision modeling.