Continuing living traditions to protect the rice terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras

Research reveals that the cultural significance of landscapes, particularly those with living traditions, is often overlooked or not recognized by local communities. In the case of the Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras these terraces are primarily valued for their natural beauty and environmental sustainability rather than their cultural heritage. The study highlights that the concept of cultural landscapes, as defined by UNESCO, is alien to Filipino perception, where landscapes are seen merely as natural vistas without consideration for human or cultural attributes.

(Ed.). (2012). Continuing living traditions to protect the rice terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras. Managing Cultural Landscapes, 309–325. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203128190-26