Chinese Caterpillar Fungus in China: Current Distribution, Trading, and Futures Under Climate Change and Overexploitation

This research examines how climate change and overharvesting are threatening the Chinese caterpillar fungus, a valuable medicinal mushroom found in the Himalayan region. The study predicts that warming temperatures will significantly reduce suitable habitats for this species in coming decades, while increasing demand and overharvesting are already causing population declines. Impact on everyday life: • Rising prices of traditional medicines as valuable species like caterpillar fungus become scarcer • Potential loss of traditional medicinal treatments that have shown promise for various diseases • Economic impacts on local communities who rely on harvesting for income • Demonstrates how climate change directly affects natural resources and traditional practices • Highlights need for sustainable management of valuable medicinal species