China's agricultural heritage protection urgently needs strengthening
Since 2002, with the joint efforts of international organizations such as the UN Food and Agriculture Organization and many countries, agricultural heritage has gradually become widely known. Globally, the exploration and protection of agricultural heritage has received attention from many governments, research institutions, community residents and other relevant parties.
The connotations and characteristics of agricultural heritage
According to the definition of the FAO, Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems refer to “remarkable land use systems and landscapes which are rich in globally significant biological diversity evolving from the co-adaptation of a community with its environment and its needs and aspirations for sustainable development”. Agricultural heritage has characteristics such as being living, adaptive, complex, strategic, multifunctional and endangered.
⟦NL> China has a long and splendid farming civilization, and together with the enormous differences in nature and culture between regions, it has created important agricultural heritage of many kinds, with distinct characteristics and a high degree of unity between economic and ecological value. These heritage sites embody the philosophical idea of harmony between humanity and nature, and have extremely high historical and cultural value and rich connotations of ecological civilization.
Agricultural heritage protection and the development of “agriculture, rural areas and farmers”
(1) It is conducive to passing on farming civilization and expanding agricultural functions. Traditional Chinese agriculture embodies a simple ecological outlook and values of resource protection and recycling, mutual promotion and restraint among living things, and harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature. The production techniques and management knowledge accumulated by traditional agriculture still have application value in the development of modern agriculture.
(2) It is conducive to protecting the rural ecology and building a beautiful countryside. Jiaxian County in Shaanxi, located in the hinterland of the Loess Plateau, is dry with little rain and has a fragile ecology. Jujube trees are not only an important source of livelihood for local farmers, but also play an important role in ecological protection. The Hani terraced fields in Honghe, Yunnan, have a farming history of more than 1300 years, with fields built along the mountains, and are known as a “paradise on earth and a wonder of the world”.
(3) It is conducive to improving farmers' livelihoods and achieving a doubling of income. Agricultural heritage protection emphasizes the principle of “multi-party participation and shared benefits”. According to exploration and practice at multiple heritage sites, moderate development of tourism is an effective way to protect agricultural heritage and plays an important role in promoting local social and economic development.
Progress in China's agricultural heritage protection
Since the UN Food and Agriculture Organization launched the “Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems” (GIAHS) initiative in 2002, the Chinese government was the first to respond actively. Starting with the “Qingtian rice-fish symbiosis system”, a number of distinctive agricultural heritage sites have been nominated. As of 2014, China had 11 agricultural heritage sites selected, making it the country with the largest number of selected sites.
In 2012, the Ministry of Agriculture launched the exploration of China-Nationally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems. Up to now, 39 traditional agricultural systems, including the traditional vineyard in Xuanhua, Hebei, and the ancient winter jujube garden in Cuizhuang, Binhai, Tianjin, have been selected as China-Nationally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems. In addition, the Ministry of Agriculture established an agricultural heritage expert committee and issued the “Measures for the Management of China's Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (Draft for Comments)” and the “Measures for the Management of China-Nationally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (Trial)”. China's exploration and management of agricultural heritage is at the forefront of the world.
Recommendations for strengthening agricultural heritage protection
Agricultural heritage is a new concept, and the related exploration, protection and management work is still in the initial and exploratory stage. At present, it is necessary to improve the management system, strengthen institutional development, explore protection approaches and strengthen scientific research.
First, strengthen agricultural heritage management. The management of agricultural heritage requires top-level design, improvement of agricultural heritage management measures, and improvement of management institutions at all levels, including national, provincial and heritage site levels. Organize the preparation of the “Plan for the Protection and Development of China-Nationally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems”. The management of agricultural heritage involves multiple departments, and the projects and resources of relevant departments should be integrated to form a joint management force.
Second, form a long-term mechanism for funding input. Give play to the leading role of central and local governments at all levels in agricultural heritage protection, especially for agricultural heritage sites in economically underdeveloped areas, and strengthen government financial support. Strengthen ecological protection at heritage sites, improve agricultural infrastructure, and support heritage sites in developing ecological products and developing ecotourism. In addition, given the important service functions that agricultural heritage sites perform in maintaining regional ecological balance, improving farmland environments and protecting biodiversity, it is necessary to explore multiple compensation methods such as funds, technology, policies and projects to make up for the costs increased or output reduced by farmers due to adopting traditional agricultural production methods, and to promote the steady improvement of regional ecosystem service functions.
Third, explore diverse protection and development approaches. Agricultural heritage protection is not frozen preservation that restricts regional economic development, but rather emphasizes dynamic protection and adaptive management in planning and development. Effectively protect important germplasm resources, traditional production techniques, important agricultural landscapes and ancient villages. Under the premise of scientific planning, explore multiple protection and development approaches so that more farmers can enjoy the fruits of development. Support farmers at heritage sites in developing green, organic and other ecological agricultural products, moderately develop ecotourism, and develop tourism routes themed on agricultural heritage as well as agritainment focused on experiencing traditional production techniques and tasting products.
Fourth, strengthen related scientific research. Systematically summarize the traditional agricultural development models of heritage sites, and deeply explore the knowledge and experience of heritage sites in ecological protection, resource utilization and agricultural management. Comprehensively use multiple disciplines such as ecology, economics, management and archaeology to carry out interdisciplinary research. Focus on research on the structure and functions of ecosystems at agricultural heritage sites, as well as the mechanisms of their role in maintaining biodiversity and adapting to climate change, and explore approaches to agricultural heritage protection and development as well as related management systems and policy measures.