Typical Water-land Utilization GIAHS in Low-lying Areas:The Xinghua Duotian Agrosystem Example in China

Xinghua Duotian Agrosystem is a raised ifeld agriculture system with typical water-land utilization. It was identiifed as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems （GIAHS） site by FAO in April 2014. Based on a literature review and ifeld investigations, we analyzed the history and development, structure and characteristics, functions and values of the Xinghua Duotian Agrosystem in this research. The system has a long history, rich biodiversity, important ecosystem services, traditional adapted agricultural technologies and a folk culture. Altogether, these features form an attractive landscape created by its special water-land utilization. It also has great importance for the livelihood maintenance of the local people. However, the inheritance and conservation effort of Xinghua Duotian Agrosystem is facing great threats from modern agriculture, urbanization and labor loss. This paper wil provide insight into the Xinghua Duotian Agrosystem, and provide scientiifc support for the conservation and development of this special system. It will also provide a good example for similar areas in China and worldwide.

Traditional Agroforestry Systems: One Type of Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems

As one kind of land use practice, traditional agroforestry systems already have a long history of hundreds of years in practice and still play a significant role in the world today, especially in tropical and sub-tropical areas. In this era of globalization and food in security, more and more governments and non-governmental organizations are paying attention to traditional agroforestry systems because of their economic, ecological and socio-culture beneifts. These beneifts are also in accord with the characteristics of Globaly Important Agricultural Heritage Systems （GIAHS）. So far, four typical traditional agroforestry systems from five countries have been designated as GIAHS. These traditional agroforestry systems have rich agricultural and associated biodiversity, multiple ecosystem services and precious socio-culture values at a regional and global level. Although traditional agroforestry systems are confronted with many threats and challenges, such as population growth, migration, market impact, climate change and so on, as long as governments and non-governmental organizations, local communities and smallholders can cooperate with each other, traditional agroforestry systems will be effectively protected and wil remain in the future a sustainable global land use practice.

Agricultural Heritage Systems:A Bridge between Urban and Rural Development

In the early 1990 s,China stepped into the stage of rapid urbanization with a flourishing economy and new technological development.Surplus labor from rural areas flooded into cities and became the main force of urban development.However some severe threats to human survival emerged from urbanization,such as overextensive urban development,excessive resource consumption,ecological degradation,food security and safety risks and social crises.It has become an imperative to balance urban and rural development to achieve greater harmony between nature and society.This paper firstly tried to focus on public dietary change,agricultural industry development,institutional guarantee,ecological restoration,as well as cultural tourism in urban and peri-urban agricultural heritage sites.Then,it established a development model,balanced the urbanization and urban-supported agriculture.This paper proposed ＂Agricultural heritage systems＂ as an entry point for balancing the development of urban areas and rural areas.Agricultural heritage systems can inherit local traditional culture,keep the green and organic agriculture cultivation systems,exploit the distinct landscape tourism,and the like for diversified development;In addition,agricultural heritage systems can take full advantage of abundant funds,firm the institutional guarantee and advanced technologies from the nearby urban complex for regurgitation-feeding of rural enterprises.With the help of these strategies,we can achieve the harmony of ＂Ecological Urban＂ and ＂Garden Countryside＂.

Analyzing Environmental Stress Counter-measures in Agricultural Heritage Sites in China

In recent years, with climate change, many agricultural systems are facing severe environmental stress, which are seriously threatening the food security and sustainable development of agricultural system. Although mainstream agro-system can effectively reduce the adverse agro-production effect rapidly by using modern technology, but many of them bring serious ecological crisis at the same time. For the sustainable development of agro-systems, the stress mitigation options must give full consideration to ecological protection. The Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems （GIAHS） sites, relying on its unique land use, water conservancy facilities, traditional crops, etc., form unique production system creating a better match with local natural conditions. Based on disaster mitigation system theory and practice, this paper analyzes environmental stress counter-measures of several GIAHS sites in China. The water requirement of milet, a drought-tolerant crop in Aohan Dryland Farming System （recognized as a GIAHS pilot site in 2012）, has a better match with local water conditions. By reducing vulnerability of crops, agriculture survived healthily in semi-arid regions. Honghe Hani Rice Terraces System （recognized as a GIAHS pilot site in 2010）, relying on the unique land and water use patterns, has successfully reshape disaster inducing environment, and effectively reduce the risk/effects of droughts. Besides, due to the high price, rich crop diversity and variety of income channel, the Agricultural Heritage sites can ensure the economic income and agro-system health when facing environmental stress. Stress counter-measures of traditional agricultural systems make full use of the regulation and spontaneity ability of the natural system, which is an important way to achieve sustainable development of ecological agriculture.