"We will continue to support China and East Asia in the conservation and development of Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS), promote knowledge sharing, technology sharing, and mutual learning of experiences, and enable agricultural heritage to play a greater role in ensuring food security, promoting rural revitalization, and addressing climate change." Carlos Aldeco, FAO Representative in China, said in a video address at the conference that day.
At the meeting, representatives from China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea jointly launched an initiative to incorporate heritage sites into a comprehensive regional ecosystem conservation framework, strengthen the preservation of agricultural biodiversity and landscape integrity; promote the integration of farming culture into the education system and public cultural services; and, establish sound mechanisms for community participation and benefit-sharing to foster a responsible tourism model that respects ecological carrying capacity and highlights local characteristics.
China is an active advocate and major contributor to the protection of GIAHS. To date, 104 GIAHS sites have been recognized globally, of which 25 are located in China, ranking among the top in the world.
The photo, taken on September 11, show the picturesque Ziquejie Terraced Fields in Xinhua County, Loudi City, Hunan Province. (Photo/Yang Huafeng, Chinanews)
Located in Xinhua County, the Ziquejie Terraced Fields, with a history of more than 2,000 years, were recognized as a GIAHS site and added to the list of World Heritage Irrigation Structures (WHIS). Tens of thousands of mu (per mu equals about 0.067 hectares) of terraced fields rely entirely on natural gravity irrigation. In recent years, while renovating the irrigation system and preserving the traditional features of local settlements, the local authority has promoted the deep integration of terrace protection with specialty industries, cultural tourism, and educational activities, fostering the development of diverse business forms such as ecological tourism, farming study tours, and boutique homestays.
"The conference has also particularly highlighted youth participation, creating a platform for young people to engage in the protection of agricultural heritage through various forms of practical activities. This is precisely the key to the sustainable inheritance of agricultural heritage." Carlos Aldeco believes that agricultural heritage depends on scientific protection and policy support, and also requires generations of continued safeguarding efforts.
In an interview with China News Service, Min Qingwen, executive chairman of the East Asia Research Association for Agricultural Heritage Systems, pointed out that many GIAHS sites in China are located in economically underdeveloped areas, ethnic regions, and ecologically fragile areas, and long-term protection and development of these areas can provide vivid cases for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He also stressed the need to integrate data from multiple sources—including statistics, long-term monitoring, remote sensing, and field surveys—to comprehensively quantify the contribution of GIAHS to the SDGs.
This article is from Hunan Provincial Government. www.enghunan.gov.cn.
Translator: Xiao Juan
Chinese source: Chinanews
"The conference has also particularly highlighted youth participation, creating a platform for young people to engage in the protection of agricultural heritage through various forms of practical activities. This is precisely the key to the sustainable inheritance of agricultural heritage." Carlos Aldeco believes that agricultural heritage depends on scientific protection and policy support, and also requires generations of continued safeguarding efforts.
In an interview with China News Service, Min Qingwen, executive chairman of the East Asia Research Association for Agricultural Heritage Systems, pointed out that many GIAHS sites in China are located in economically underdeveloped areas, ethnic regions, and ecologically fragile areas, and long-term protection and development of these areas can provide vivid cases for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He also stressed the need to integrate data from multiple sources—including statistics, long-term monitoring, remote sensing, and field surveys—to comprehensively quantify the contribution of GIAHS to the SDGs.
This article is from Hunan Provincial Government. www.enghunan.gov.cn.
Translator: Xiao Juan
Chinese source: Chinanews
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