Declining caterpillar fungus in Himalayas

In interviews with more than 800 harvesters of caterpillar fungus, a valuable component of traditional medicine, in the Himalayan region conducted over the past decade, the majority of respondents reported a decline in fungus production, which they increasingly attribute to overexploitation; ecological models indicate rising winter temperatures, unfavorable to fungus production, throughout fungus habitats, suggesting that a combination of climatic and harvesting pressures imperil caterpillar fungus sustainability.

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Article #18-11591: "The demise of caterpillar fungus in the Himalayan region due to climate change and overharvesting," by Kelly A. Hopping, Stephen M. Chignell, and Eric F. Lambin.

MEDIA CONTACT: Kelly A. Hopping, Boise State University, ID; tel: 208-426-4152; e-mail: kellyhopping@boisestate.edu