The Change Mechanism of Human-Environment Interactions from the Perspective of Contextualization: A Case Study of the Honghe Hani Rice Terraces as a World Cultural Heritage Site

A new framework rooted in event ecology reveals that the drying of terraces at Honghe Hani Rice Terraces, often blamed on tourism-driven water overuse, is actually driven by reduced precipitation and deforestation. Local residents exaggerated tourism’s role due to social conflicts stemming from unequal access to tourism benefits. The study underscores the need for context-sensitive analysis—incorporating political, economic, and social factors—to objectively assess human-environment interactions and promote sustainable heritage management.

Hua, H., Zhou, S., Ding, Z., & Pan, Y. (2018). The Change Mechanism of Human-Environment Interactions from the Perspective of Contextualization: A Case Study of the Honghe Hani Rice Terraces as a World Cultural Heritage Site. Sustainability, 10(7), 2230. https://doi.org/10.3390/su10072230