Cherishing the gifts of ancestors

Besides local villagers' voluntary protection efforts, the government has also joined in. Last year, Pu'er city issued 20 regulations aimed at conservation of ancient tea tree plantations. At the beginning of March, Yunnan province rolled out rules banning six kinds of practices that have the potential to damage tea tree forests and the environment.

"We have a long road ahead, and it will take time to protect the ancient tea tree plantations," says Zhang Pisheng, a local official.