Climate Change Pushing Taiwan's 'God Flower' Towards Extinction

In the misty mountains of Alishan in central Taiwan, a special flower known as the Dendrobium orchid or God Flower grows. The indigenous Tsou people consider it a sacred flower that is necessary for their ceremonies. However, the flower is becoming harder to find as the tribe believes that climate change is to blame. The flower requires cold winter temperatures to bloom in the spring, but warming temperatures due to global warming are preventing this. The increasing temperatures and more frequent droughts in Taiwan have also affected the livelihoods of the Tsou people, forcing them to adapt their farming practices. The Tsou people fear the disappearance of the God Flower as it has no substitute in their rituals. The flower plays an important role in their cultural practices, such as the Mayasvi festival, where it is used to bless warriors and ward off bad luck. The Tsou people, one of Taiwan's indigenous tribes, are concerned about their future and hope for support from the government to address the impact of climate change on their way of life. However, political candidates have been slow in developing sustainable environmental policies, according to Greenpeace. Time is running out for the Tsou people as they face the consequences of climate change.