Chapter 629: When the Gunshot Rings Out

Fang Ye couldn't help but ask, "Why has the gibbon population declined so rapidly?"

Fan Peng said, "The main reason is still the loss and degradation of habitat, with the planting of cardamoms being a major cause of habitat degradation."

Cardamoms Fang Ye of course knew, a very common spice, usually used in braised pork, or cooking mutton to remove the gamey taste.

Fan Peng said, "Cardamom is a shade-loving plant, and to cultivate it, people clear the underbrush and vines without cutting down all the trees because if they did, the cardamoms would be scorched dead by direct sunlight during the dry season. That's why they selectively prune some of the trees.

From the outside, the forest might look unchanged, but in reality, it's left with just some big trees; young saplings are cleared before they have a chance to grow, so the forest has no opportunity to regenerate. Once the big trees die, these woods will have huge gaps, but locals won't replant."