Conservation of terraced paddy fields engaged with multiple stakeholders: the case of the Noto GIAHS site in Japan

Zhenmian, Qiu; Chen, Bixia; Takemoto, Kazuhiko

doi:10.1007/s10333-013-0387-x

Cited by 49 publications

(26 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…Firstly, some studies have shown that RFDC is able to increase cropland biodiversity [11] and control pests and disease, and then reduces the amount of chemicals used [8][9][10]31]. Ecological and cultural values of HHRTS are also capable of bringing some income to local farmers, for instance, via Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) and eco-tourism and cultural tourism [32,33]. Secondly, products from rice terraces such as red rice, fishes, loaches, duck eggs, etc.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

Zhang

Min

et al. 2017

Sustainability

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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.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

Zhang

Min

et al. 2017

Sustainability

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“…However, few authors have explored alternative states and their consequences for traditional rice terracing , Lansing et al 2014, Qiu et al 2014. Scenarios for the development of the system can be divided into two categories: (1) development with a varying degree of resilience without a regime shift and (2) development without resilience leading to a regime shift.…”

Section: Uncertainties In the Studymentioning

confidence: 99%

Resilience and adaptability of rice terrace social-ecological systems: a case study of a local community’s perception in Banaue, Philippines

Castonguay¹,

Burkhard²,

Müller³

et al. 2016

E&S

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. 2016. Resilience and adaptability of rice terrace socialecological systems: a case study of a local community's perception in Banaue, Philippines. Ecology and Society 21 (2) ABSTRACT. The social-ecological systems of rice terraces across Southeast Asia are the result of centuries of long-term interactions between human communities and their surrounding ecosystems. Processes and structures in these systems have evolved to provide a diversity of ecosystem services and benefits to human societies. However, as Southeast Asian countries experience rapid economic growth and related land-use changes, the remaining extensive rice cultivation systems are increasingly under pressure. We investigated the long-term development of ecosystem services and the adaptive capacity of the social-ecological system of rice terrace landscapes using a case study of Banaue (Ifugao Province, Northern-Luzon, Philippines). A set of indicators was used to describe and assess changes in the social-ecological state of the study system. The resilience of the rice terraces and the human communities that maintain them was examined by comparing the current state of the system with results from the literature. Our findings indicate that, although the social-ecological system has not yet shifted to an alternative state, pressures are increasing and some cultural ecosystem services have already been lost.

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“…One of the most common reasons is the absence of labor and a rural population where those terraces exist. Poverty as well as changes in the traditional values and lifestyle of rural communities (Posthumus and de Graaff, 2005) result in the majority of young residents leaving their own land and migrating to big cities where economic and work conditions are perceived superior (Lasanta et al, 2001;Tarolli et al, 2014), leaving behind old farmers (Garcia-Ruiz et al, 2013;Qiu et al, 2014). Meanwhile, slumps in agriculture prices and high maintenance costs reduce the economic returns of terracing (Antle et al, 2007;Qiu et al, 2014).…”

Section: Issues Of Terracing: Facing the Challengesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Poverty as well as changes in the traditional values and lifestyle of rural communities (Posthumus and de Graaff, 2005) result in the majority of young residents leaving their own land and migrating to big cities where economic and work conditions are perceived superior (Lasanta et al, 2001;Tarolli et al, 2014), leaving behind old farmers (Garcia-Ruiz et al, 2013;Qiu et al, 2014). Meanwhile, slumps in agriculture prices and high maintenance costs reduce the economic returns of terracing (Antle et al, 2007;Qiu et al, 2014). As terracing costs increased with increasing slope gradients (Table 4), terrace profitability decreased faster than once believed by farmers and stakeholders as indicated by a cost-benefit analysis from 11 cases in Peru (Posthumus and de Graaff, 2005;Bizoza and de Graaff, 2012).…”

Section: Issues Of Terracing: Facing the Challengesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Global synthesis of the classifications, distributions, benefits and issues of terracing

Wei

Chen

Wang

et al. 2016

Earth-Science Reviews

241

135

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For thousands of years, humans have created different types of terraces in different sloping conditions, meant to mitigate flood risks, reduce soil erosion and conserve water. These anthropogenic landscapes can be found in tropical and subtropical rainforests, deserts, and arid and semiarid mountains across the globe. Despite the long history, the roles of and the mechanisms by which terracing improves ecosystem services (ESs) remain poorly understood. Using literature synthesis and quantitative analysis, the worldwide types, distributions, major benefits and issues of terracing are presented in this review. A key terracing indicator, defined as the ratio of different ESs under terraced and non-terraced slopes (δ), was used to quantify the role of terracing in providing ESs. Our results indicated that ESs provided by terracing was generally positive because the mean values of δ were mostly greater than one. The most prominent role of terracing was found in erosion control (11.46 ± 2.34), followed by runoff reduction (2.60 ± 1.79), biomass accumulation (1.94 ± 0.59), soil water recharge (1.20 ± 0.23), and nutrient enhancement (1.20 ± 0.48). Terracing, to a lesser extent, could also enhance the survival rates of plant seedlings, promote ecosystem restoration, and increase crop yields. While slopes experiencing severe human disturbance (e.g., overgrazing and deforestation) can generally become more stable after terracing, negative effects of terracing may occur in poorly-designed or poorly-managed terraces. Among the reasons are the lack of environmental legislation, changes in traditional concepts and lifestyles of local people, as well as price decreases for agricultural products. All of these can accelerate terrace abandonment and degradation. In light of these findings, possible solutions regarding socio-economic changes and techniques to improve already degraded terraces are discussed.

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Conservation of terraced paddy fields engaged with multiple stakeholders: the case of the Noto GIAHS site in Japan

Cited by 49 publications

References 10 publications

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

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

Resilience and adaptability of rice terrace social-ecological systems: a case study of a local community’s perception in Banaue, Philippines

Global synthesis of the classifications, distributions, benefits and issues of terracing

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Conservation of terraced paddy fields engaged with multiple stakeholders: the case of the Noto GIAHS site in Japan

Cited by 49 publications

References 10 publications

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

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

Resilience and adaptability of rice terrace social-ecological systems: a case study of a local community&#8217;s perception in Banaue, Philippines

Global synthesis of the classifications, distributions, benefits and issues of terracing

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Resilience and adaptability of rice terrace social-ecological systems: a case study of a local community’s perception in Banaue, Philippines