A Conservation Approach of Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS): Improving Traditional Agricultural Patterns and Promoting Scale-Production

Abstract

Abstract:Heritage conservation is an important recurring research theme on agricultural heritage systems. Improving the income of farmers from agriculture is regarded as an effective conservation approach. This study examined how the improved rice-fish-duck coculture (IRFDC) promotes the protection of the Honghe Hani Rice Terraced System (HHRTS) by keeping farmers farming in their hometowns. A semi-structural interview and a questionnaire survey were used to collect data on agricultural input-outputs and household employment in HHRTS. As a result, a fairly large proportion of HHRTS rice terraces were used for the hybrid rice monoculture (HRM) with chemical inputs, and most of these rice terraces were wasted for half a year on account of being left unused; the IRFDC requires considerable time input for farming and breeding, but barely needs any chemical inputs. IRFDC entails a higher cost than HRM, but also has a higher return than HRM. Driving a family to do full-time farming requires extra more than 0.71 ha rice terraces for IRFDC. In conclusion, Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHSs) can be used for protecting terraces from abandonment and destruction by improving agricultural economic benefits for farmers. At present, a shortage of laborers in HHRTS sites is false. Agricultural heritage sites do not actual need so many people if peasant households can do large-scale farming.

Farmers’ landslide risk perceptions and willingness for restoration and conservation of world heritage site of Honghe Hani Rice Terraces, China

“…However, their survival is at risk because of climate extremes to one side that are exacerbating the occurrence of hazard events and also because of the economic difficulties that farmers are facing in the current century. Despite Hani terraces have tremendous economic potential, many farmers are registering huge losses (Zhang et al 2017). As a consequence, the economic sustainability of these systems is endangered, and as found in this research, many farmers might think to abandon the rice terraces farming activity.…”

“…The impacts of these mass movements for farmers are enormous, to that policymakers at the international and national levels have come to terms with this pressing issue. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations launched in 2002 the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS), to mobilize global awareness and support dynamic conservation and adaptive management practices of indigenous agricultural systems (Zhang et al 2017). In the GIAHS framework, people's perceptions are recognized to be necessary, since they not only work as precepts but they are also able to intervene in the behavioural process (Hua and Zhou 2015).…”

“…However, in June 2018, in the Laohuzui terraces, one of the most famous and scenic spots, a massive landslide occurred resulting in 1030-m long of rice terrace collapse, directly impacting 138 households, burdening farmers' source of livelihood, their touristic economic activity and the cultural and aesthetic value of the area. These consequences not only directly threatened the sustainability of these environments but also the willingness of farmers to keep this activity, since as demonstrated by Zhang et al (2017), income from nonfarm job in cities is higher than in GIAHS sites. This occasion fosters the need to understand how farmers conceptualize such risks and which are the conservation strategies they adopt and which limitations they might face for the future in light of a changing climate.…”

Greenway Implementation Influence on Agricultural Heritage Sites (AHS): The Case of Liantang Village of Zengcheng District, Guangzhou City, China

“…Sustainable tourism can in turn effectively protect the local heritage with appropriate development [14][15][16]. Eco-and agro-tourism have been proven to be viable means of maintaining biological diversity, supporting local communities and cultural heritage, and improving income and well-being [17][18][19][20]. However, tourism has two sides.…”

Traditional agriculture: a climate-smart approach for sustainable food production

“…Modern agriculture, however, enhanced food productivity but with the acceleration of several environmental problems such as climate change, food unsafety, biodiversity loss, soil degradation and environmental pollution (Zhang et al 2017a). Modern agriculture is a major driver for the loss of crop genetic resources in the Third World due to adoption of HYVs and planting the vast fields with genetically uniform cultivars (Altieri and Merrick 1987).…”