Modern methods

Since 2018, two years after the Wuyishan National Park pilot program was launched, about 20 sq km of illegally reclaimed tea mountains had been reforested, including more than 5.7 sq km within the park's boundaries.

Despite restrictions preventing local growers from expanding existing cultivation areas or using new parcels of land, the park remains committed to supporting the local tea industry and improving the farmers' lives.

Now though, the emphasis has shifted toward sustainable tea cultivation practices, including optimizing existing plantations and improving the quality of Wuyi Rock tea.

By prioritizing quality over quantity, the farmers can maintain their market competitiveness while safeguarding the environmental integrity of Mount Wuyi.

"In order to better protect the forest, we must respect and preserve the existing areas for the locals to plant and live on, but further expansion has been restricted," said Huang Zhimin, a researcher with the park's management bureau.

"However, existing tea growers and merchants can continue their operations because we prioritize the livelihoods and well-being of the local community."