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COUNTRY EXPERIENCE IN IMPLEMENTING

DYNAMIC CONSERVATION OF GIAHS:

The Philippines’ Ifugao Rice Terraces

PRESENTATION OUTLINE

Brief Information and Overview The Ifugao Rice Terraces Agricultural Biological Diversity Knowledge Systems Socio-cultural Diversity Other Significant Characteristics and

Functionalities

Status, Achievements and Progress Conservation of Agricultural Biodiversity Land and Water Conservation Community Livelihoods Improvement Policy Outputs and Research

Milestones Lessons Learnt and Recommendations Next Steps and Way Forward

• IRT is in the province of

IFUGAO in Cordillera

Administrative Region in

the Northern part of Luzon

Island in the Philippines

• It has a total land area of

251,778 hectares

• (Pilot area of GIAHS is in

Hungduan, Ifugao

covering an area of 260.3

square kms. )

Ifugao Rice Terraces (IRT)

• IRT are the priceless

contribution of Philippine

ancestors to humanity, built

2000 years ago and passed

on to generation to

generation

• IRT represent an ending

illustration of an ancient

civilization that surpassed

various challenges and

setbacks posed by

modernization

Ifugao Rice Terraces (IRT)

IRT Biological Resources

• There are 5 major plant groups: trees, shrubs, brush, herbs/weeds, grass, and vines and epiphytes

• 280 species of plants;

• 93 species of animals comprising of 7 taxa such as birds, amphibians, reptiles, animals, herps, insect, fresh water fish

The Ifugao Rice Terraces consists of different ecosystems that contain various species of mammals, birds, amphibians and reptiles as well as numerous plant species in different forms.

Knowledge Systems

Terracing of the mountain slopes.

Knowledge Systems

Rice harvesting is by

detaching the

panicles. Rice straws

with leaves are left in

the paddies to

decompose.

Organic Rice Farming System

Knowledge Systems

Knowledge Systems

Water irrigation

Knowledge Systems

A traditional “Muyong” (private forest) above rice terraces.

Socio-cultural Diversity

Rice ritual conserves and

sustains fish and shellfish

production in same

terraces.

• Majority of the people belong to

Ifugao tribes

The Philippines’ IRT inscribed in the World

Heritage List on December 3, 1995

• Dramatic testimony to a sustainable communal

system of rice production, harvesting water from

the forest clad mountain tops and creating stone

terraces, a system that has survived for two

millennia.

• Memorial to the history and labour of more than a

thousand generations of working together as a

community.

• Outstanding example of land-use resulting from a

harmonious interaction between people and

environment with steep terraced landscape of

great aesthetic beauty.

Significant Characteristics and Functionalities

Awareness of the people on the values and importance of floral

resources that influences the biodiversity richness of the community

The people do not only see the economic and commercial values of the

biodiversity resources but more importantly they also consider its

ecological value

Among the important uses of plants in the community are for food,

construction materials, fuel, medicine, and wood carving material


• Preserved indigenous knowledge systems on biodiversity conservation


• Inherited customs & traditions


Natural resources use and rice

production are based on old indigenous

customs and beliefs preventing over-

exploitation of land resources and

promoting biodiversity conservation and

protection.


Conservation of Agricultural

Biodiversity

Establishment barangay level

nurseries for forest and fruit tree

seedlings, including indigenous

trees

Woodlot enrichment or agro-

forestry establishment

Crop diversification through the

integrated rice farming

Planting of alternative crops in

abandoned rice terraces as climate

change adaptation option

Biodiversity enrichment and

diversification

GIAHS agroforestry established

STATUS, ACHIEVEMENTS AND PROGRESS

Land and Water Conservation

Repair and rehabilitation

of damaged terraces and

slopes, irrigation canals

Mapping of rice terraces

Manage/control

earthworm damage

Hazard mitigation

structures conducted


Collaboration with existing

markets for organic products

Finalization of marketing and

labelling of GIAHS organic

product diversification


Community Livelihood Improvement

Implemented alternative crops in the

abandon rice terraces and improving

alternative livelihood activities

Policy and Research

Series of consultations/focus group

discussions to come up with criteria

and procedures for the recognition

of GIAHS sites

Formulation of Philippine criteria

and procedures for the recognition

of GIAHS sites

Identification and documentation of

agricultural systems for the

recognition and conservation

management processes under

GIAHS


Available long list of agricultural heritage systems

Finalized National criteria for recognition of GIAHS

sites

Compendium of important agricultural sites (regional,

national and global)

Available case studies of 5 selected candidate GIAHS

sites

GIAHS mainstreamed in the sectoral and intersectoral

plans

Identified concerned institution to shepherd the GIAHS

in the Philippines.

Milestones

Degradation of IRT due to the giant earthworm resulting to

erosion, water seepages and cracks or paddies; low

agricultural productivity and loss of biodiversity habitats

Recommendation: monitoring and implementation of

management plan to control if not eradicate the spread of

alien and invasive species in the country, i.e. giant

earthworm in IRT

Land use conversion of the terraces into settlement areas

resulting to loss of biodiversity habitat

Recommendation: review and/or enactment of laws and

policies supportive to the conservation of the rice terraces

Lessons learned and recommendations

Diminishing biodiversity species in the IRT

Recommendation: (a) formulate local ordinances banning the

collection and trading of threatened endemic species (e.g.

orchids), and hunting wildlife; (b) mapping and inventory of

biodiversity species in IRT

Erosion of the IRT and siltation of river systems

Recommendation: establish appropriate, effective and efficient

infrastructure support system to maintain cultural significance

of the IRT

Lessons learned and recommendations

Adoption of the national criteria on recognition of

GIAHS sites in the Philippines

Recognition/designation of the five (5) GIAHS sites

in the Philippines by the international GIAHS

Allocation of budget for national GIAHS

implementation and monitoring

Policy amendment proposals to support the dynamic

conservation

GIAHS is mainstreamed into national plans/programs

Way Forward……….

Salamat!

Haggiyo

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