Objectives To figure out the conflicts between foggy tea cultivation and ecological conservation on Lu Mountain, assess the distribution and suitability of foggy tea gardens, and provide recommendations for balancing local economic development and ecological safety.

Methods Utilizing Sentinel-2 remote sensing imagery and SRTM DEM data, combined with the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and the Normalized Difference Built-up Index (NDBI), this study extracted the spatial distribution of foggy tea gardens on Lu Mountain. The integration of slope data and meteorological observations was instrumental in analyzing the suitability for tea planting, which led to the novel categorization of tea into valley foggy tea and highland foggy tea for the first time. The study also proposed cultivation management recommendations based on economic outputs.

Results In 2022, the total area of foggy tea gardens was approximately 648.58 hm², primarily located in areas such as Wangjiapo, Qinglian Temple, Taohuayuan, north of Hanyang Peak, and mountain foothills. A major portion of the tea gardens, 74.27%, was situated on slopes ranging from 6° to 25°. Highland foggy tea constituted a smaller proportion, at 18.62%, while 19.49% of the gardens were on slopes steeper than 25°, posing serious risks of soil erosion. It is recommended that 14.43% of the tea garden area (Class V) be gradually withdrawn from production and subjected to ecological restoration.

Conclusions Foggy tea cultivation is crucial for Lu Mountain's economy but poses ecological risks. To ensure the economic viability and environmental integrity of the area, it is imperative to implement a multifaceted management strategy that emphasizes ecological restoration.