Climate change is threatening the ceremonial traditions and livelihoods of Taiwan’s indigenous Tsou tribe. The vanishing God Flower, a sacred orchid essential for their rituals, is disappearing due to rising temperatures and changing weather patterns. This article explores the consequences of climate change on the Tsou people and highlights the urgent need for government support and sustainable environmental policies to preserve their way of life.
In the misty mountains of Alishan in central Taiwan, the Tsou people have long relied on the God Flower for their ceremonies. However, the flower’s availability has drastically decreased due to climate change. The orchid requires cold winter temperatures for its buds to form, but minimum temperatures have been gradually increasing over the past decade. Greenpeace predicts that if global warming continues, the average temperature at the Alishan Weather Station will rise by 2050, further jeopardizing the God Flower’s survival.
The decline of the God Flower has profound implications for the Tsou tribe. They believe that without this flower, their deities will struggle to find them during rituals. The disappearance of the God Flower is not only a threat to their cultural heritage but also impacts their livelihoods. The Tsou people rely on the land for farming, but frequent droughts and warmer weather have led to crop failures. Traditional bamboo cultivation has become challenging due to water scarcity, forcing farmers like Jui-Chiao Chung to switch to coffee farming instead.
However, even these adaptation measures are not sufficient as coffee crops are also vulnerable to higher temperatures. The changing climate directly affects the Tsou people’s income and ability to sustain themselves. While individuals like Ms Chung can make adjustments, the Tsou people face an unalterable loss if the God Flower entirely disappears. The flower’s significance in rituals cannot be replaced or cultivated artificially, demanding urgent attention and support.
Aside from the immediate ecological consequences, the impacts of climate change also highlight the neglect of political leaders towards environmental issues. Despite the ongoing presidential campaign in Taiwan, politicians have failed to adequately address the severity of climate change. Greenpeace criticizes the candidates for their slow progress in developing sustainable environmental policies, dubbing them “climate snails.” The renewable energy goals proposed by the candidates fall short of meeting net-zero emissions targets, despite voter concerns about climate change.
The Tsou people’s future heavily depends on the support they receive from the government. Elder Gao Desheng expresses his worries about the tribe’s future and emphasizes the importance of political engagement on climate change. It is crucial for Taiwan’s government to prioritize sustainable environmental policies that address the challenges faced by indigenous communities like the Tsou tribe. If action is not taken swiftly, the Tsou people’s traditions, livelihoods, and connection to their ancestral lands may be irreversibly lost.
Preserving the God Flower and combatting climate change requires a collective effort. It is not only the responsibility of the Tsou tribe to protect their cultural heritage but also of the Taiwanese government and society as a whole. The urgency of the situation demands immediate action to mitigate the effects of climate change, develop sustainable strategies, and ensure the survival of the precious God Flower for generations to come.
