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

A conservation strategy for the Honghe Hani Rice Terraced System (HHRTS) demonstrates that improving traditional agricultural patterns can protect globally important agricultural heritage systems by increasing economic benefits for farmers. The study found that while hybrid rice monoculture with chemical inputs offers lower costs but leaves terraces unused for half the year, improved rice-fish-duck coculture (IRFDC) requires more labor and initial investment but yields higher returns. This approach can incentivize farmers to continue cultivating their land, reducing abandonment and destruction of terraces. The research used semi-structured interviews and questionnaires to analyze agricultural inputs, outputs, and household employment, revealing that large-scale farming by peasant households could mitigate labor shortages without compromising conservation efforts.

Zhang, Y., Min, Q., Li, H., He, L., Zhang, C., & Yang, L. (2017). A Conservation Approach of Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS): Improving Traditional Agricultural Patterns and Promoting Scale-Production. Sustainability, 9(2), 295. https://doi.org/10.3390/su9020295