GIAHS pilot systems and sites

Ifugao Rice Terraces (Philippines)

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Country and location: Philippines, Ifugao Province

Project title: Philippines' Agricultural Heritage: Conservation and Adaptive Management of the Ifugao Rice Terraces

Proponent/requesting agency: Department of Environment and Natural Resources

Sites: Rice terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras (World Heritage Sites)

Area of GIAHS: 68 416 ha

Agricultural biodiversity:
Traditional rice varieties of high quality for rice wine production (4 endemic); Associated mudfish, snails, shrimps, and frogs in paddies, some of which are endemic; Privately owned woodlots or forest (locally called “muyong”), with enhanced biodiversity (264 species, mostly indigenous, 47 endemic), including 171 tree species (112 species are used), 10 varieties of climbing rattan, 45 medicinal plant species, 20 plant species are used as ethno-pesticides.

Associated biodiversity:
41 bird species, 6 indigenous mammal species, including beneficial species of rats, and 2 endemic species of reptiles, are associated to the agro-ecosystem.

Indicator species:

Ecosystem functions:
The ring of private forest or "muyong" caps each cluster of terraces, which are closely regimented through tribal practices. Muyongs are located on top of steep hills and have important functions: they provide food, medicine, fuel wood, construction timber and wood for carving, as well as habitat for pollinators and predators. The muyong is also the primary recharge zone providing water to the terraces. Water coming out of the terraces dictates the overall physical soundness of terrace cultivation. The terraces control rainwater that could otherwise cause severe flooding and erosion downstreams. The rice paddies act as a water filtration system and provide communities living in the valleys below with drinking water. The watersheds of the rice terraces in general, supplies water to the Magat Dam, one of the biggest dam in Asia, which supplies irrigation water to the nearby provinces and lowland area of Central Luzon.

Ethnicity: Ifugao (with diverse dialects)

Socio-economic and cultural characteristics:
In the district of Ifugao 72% of the population finds primary employment in agriculture. Most agricultural and forestry activities are for subsistence and local markets. Cash needs are growing and have led to transitions to growing high yielding varieties, short term seasonal vegetables and forest plantations for immediate cash benefits. A proof, that Ifugao culture is not frozen in the past. Needing higher incomes, the Ifugao have intercropped their woodlots with high-value crops such as banana, coffee and citrus – wise changes that do not harm the area's unique hydraulic system.

The ancient agricultural system management is interlocked with environment and culture. The culture defines the boundaries and management of natural resources and economic activities. Periods of rice harvest, wine production and religious rituals are all harmonized with nature and environment. The unique landscape owes its preservation and management to the strong relationship between culture and nature within and among the people who nurture rice terraces.

The landscape, cultivation of rice and rice harvest is a phenomenon that combines both natural and cultural concerns. The landscape of rice should be studied as a whole and it should be viewed in the context of the cultural landscapes in which it exists. The traditional knowledge is orally handed down from generation to generation, and has guided the maintenance of the rice terraces of the whole Cordilleras. The history of the terraces, therefore, is intertwined with that of its people, their culture and beliefs, religious rituals and in their traditional environmental management and agricultural practices.

Threats –main factors affecting the conservation of agricultural biodiversity:
The Ifugao rice terraces agricultural heritage system presents a model holistic farming system - a balance agroecosystem interlocked with "harmony between humankind and the environment". The ancient characteristics and features, spectacular aesthetic beauty and value of the rice terraces landscape have made it to the UNESCO World Heritage List. However, the inscription of the Ifugao Rice Terraces in the World Heritage Status in 1995 had provided no economic benefits of tourism for the farming population. In less than five years after their inclusion on the World Heritage List, two clusters of the five Ifugao Rice Terraces' clusters are now considered as a threatened World Heritage Site because of the increasing pressures due to urbanization, land use conversion and shifting cultivation, and other demographic pressures.

Change threatened the future of rice terraces. These changes altered the overall micro-watershed terrace hydrology and have resulted in an insufficient water supply, collapse of terrace walls, and hence, deterioration of the agricultural system. The overall integrity and sustainability of the Ifugao Rice Terraces is threatened by the efforts of transforming them as part of the national food security programme. The application of modern technologies such as lining of irrigation canals coupled with abandonment of some terrace paddies in the terrace clusters and land use conversion has resulted in hydrological discontinuity and uneven saturation of the soil profile within the terrace clusters. Immediately affected by this water imbalance are the natural communities of soil biota particularly earthworms, that are forced to move from one terrace to another in search of suitable habitat (i.e. moist soil with high organic matter). These migrations create many seepage holes causing the collapse of some terrace walls and eventually resulting in abandonment of terraces.

Decreased investments in ritual regulations in favour of non traditional objectives, market forces, urbanisation, especially in the younger generations, are gradually eroding. Most young Ifugaos have slowly given up their traditional ways of life, customs, religion and many of the rituals and sacred traditions. While educated Ifugaos migrate to other places to seek employment and better incomes, leaving behind an ageing populace. The foundation of the balanced ecosystem and viability of the IRT system, which is the Ifugaos' cultural heritage, is in real danger. With the growing population and influx of tourists, some terraces have been converted to residential use and establishments, and even woodlots (muyong) have been cleared to accommodate the housing demand and woodcarving business. Such conversion induces forest denudation, a major threat to the IRT system. It will not only affect the water storage and supply and biodiversity, but the aesthetic value of the landscape as well.

Objectives and activities of the project:
The general objective of the project is to dynamically conserve the agricultural heritage systems and their significant agricultural biodiversity, associated landscapes, promote the multiple goods and functional services of the IRT and other GIAHSs. The specific objectives are to:

• Promote land and water conservation, rehabilitation and protection of the natural landscapes;
• Evaluate impact of policies, resolve ownership and policy issues impinging rice terraces and other GIAHSs landscapes' conservation and management;
• Develop institutional support mechanisms for short term and long term sustainability and adaptive management of GIAHSs;
• Create awareness and recognition of customary institutions and forms of social organisation that underpin the traditional agricultural systems through simultaneous educational, environmental, agricultural and re-building values programmes;
• Develop a niche eco-agro-tourism industry;
• Develop niche markets and marketing systems;
• Develop and promote alternative livelihood/economic activities based on and compatible with the bio-physical, socio-economic and cultural characteristics of the GIAHS;
• Mainstream GIAHSs in the national programme agenda;
• Develop a national guideline on nomination, identification, labelling and monitoring of GIAHS in the Philippines.

Project Activities:
A number of project components and activities are identified for the preservation and dynamic conservation of the rice terraces agricultural system, biodiversity and associated landscapes. Components and activities are as follows:

1. Land and water improvement

a) land tenure improvement

b) rehabilitation of irrigation systems

c) restoration of collapsed rice terraces

2. Watershed management

a) watershed rehabilitation (reforestation, tree planting, nursery development)

b) small water impounding /reservoir construction

c) communal irrigation systems implementation

d) community land-use zoning

3. Community-based natural resource management

a) organic farming

b) re-introduction of traditional rice terraces farming

c) muyong enhancement and crop diversification/agroforestry

d) strengthening of existing community-based People's Organization (POs) and Farmer's Association (FA)

4. Biodiversity restoration and conservation

a) captive breeding of threatened or vanishing species

b) identify/delineate protected areas (NIPAS concept with twin objective of biodiversity conservation and sustainable development and Sect. 58 of IPRA)

c) development of a community-based ecotourism business plan

d) pilot testing/documentation of medicinal plants and other economically important plants

5. Revenue sourcing for project activity maintenance and sustainability

6. Resource-mobilisation institutionalisation

7. Community-based agricultural industry development

a) product development and niche market development

b) organic agriculture and productivity improvement

8. Sustainable tourism industry / niche eco-agri-tourism development

9. Social services enhancement and development

10. Revival of cultural foundation

11. Indigenous knowledge management

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