Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras

• Storms; Other climate change impacts (Vulnerability to natural disasters)
• Financial resources (Lack of sustainable funding for the functioning management agencies)
• Management activities (Implementation of the Conservation and Management Plan through operational arrangements)
• Management systems/ management plan (Need for an integrated tourism Management Plan and mechanisms to control tourism related infrastructure developments)
• Society's valuing of heritage; Changes in traditional ways of life and knowledge system (Implementation of Community-Based Land Use and Zoning Plan)
• Human resources
• Illegal activities
• Legal framework

Adopted, see page https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/4102

Adopted, see page https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/1077

Total amount provided to the property: USD 20,000 under Italy Funds-in-Trust for study tour; USD 47,000 under the UNESCO Participation Programme for emergency assistance following typhoon Emong in May 2009; USD 40,600, Netherlands Funds-In-Trust, emergency stabilization and restoration for the Rice Terraces after typhoon Juaning in July 2011

On 19 December 2019, the State Party submitted a state of conservation report, which is available at https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/722/documents/ and presents the progress in addressing the conservation issues highlighted by the Committee at its previous sessions, as follows:

• The State Party has carried out a number of initiatives in line with the Rice Terraces Master Plan 2015-2024, effectively utilizing a wide range of national and international resources and addressing four specific aspects: biophysical, socio-cultural, economical development, and support system. These are focused primarily on community-based initiatives and include protecting the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property;
• A number of conservation and management activities were undertaken, including the rehabilitation of deteriorated irrigation systems, repair of damaged stone walls, construction of reinforcement walls, and reforestation with the purpose of watershed rehabilitation. The transmission of indigenous knowledge, systems and practices (IKSP) is notably ensured through implementation of an Indigenous Peoples Education Program that supports the integration of traditional knowledge systems in formal, non-formal and informal education to improve the state of conservation of the property. The Ifugao Archaeological Research Project has contributed to establishing the origins of the rice terraces. Amongst other projects, the Ifugao Indigenous Knowledge Workbook, Provincial Government initiatives such as the Schools of Living Traditions (SLT) and an inventory of Ifugao traditional houses have promoted the strengthening of Ifugao cultural identity and heritage;
• Different public and private bodies have actively participated in the preservation of the rice terraces and local development in the region, including NGOs, research institutes and private companies. Ifugao Rice Terraces are among the FAO’s Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS). In order to coordinate various conservation activities and ensure proper support for decision making, inter-agency mechanisms have been established between the Ifugao Rice Terraces Rehabilitation and Development Council and the GIAHS Sustainable Development Committee, both of which are responsible for monitoring and implementing relevant projects and research towards the appropriate preservation of the rice terraces;
• The State Party has also focused on sustainable, community-level capacity building to help ensure that business opportunities develop into adequate forms of tourism and community-based, traditional agro-industries. Through the continuous maintenance of the rice terraces, local residents will be able to earn their livelihoods from the protection of the World Heritage property;
• Two energy plant projects have been identified outside the buffer zone of the property, but in its periphery: (a) the Alimit Hydro Complex project, which includes the construction of power plants producing more than 100 MW along with a pumped storage facility, was granted approval by local government and comprises a project area (Mayoyao); and (b) the Kiangan Mini Hydro Corporation Project, a run-off river type hydropower plant project;
• According to the FAO in December 2019, the continued survival of the Terraces is threatened by various factors such as environmental degradation, unregulated development, and neglect brought by urbanization and changing values.

The State Party’s 2016 report mentioned climatic vulnerabilities including regular storms and floods, annual typhoons and strong earthquakes that greatly affect the property and its inhabitants. Climate change hazards in the region with major impacts have recently increased, potentially endangering peoples’ lives and the property. The Master Plan addresses the importance of the Disaster Risk Preparedness Plan, but its implementation is not indicated in the State Party’s 2019 report.

It should be acknowledged that the State Party has sustained its efforts to implement the multiple action points of the Rice Terraces Master Plan. It is recommended that the Committee encourage the State Party to continuously implement the Master Plan and maintain the long-term perspective on sustainability, ensuring the conservation of the OUV of the property and the viability of community livelihoods. Additionally, considering that the midterm review of the Master Plan is scheduled for the first semester of 2020, it is expected that the outcomes of the review should be integrated into future conservation activities.

It should also be noted that the State Party has deployed consistent efforts to address the current conservation issues of the property, notably through the mobilization of financial resources and by ensuring the involvement of the local community. These efforts have resulted in a number of initiatives aimed at sustainably improving of the property’s state of conservation and management through education, integration of traditional knowledge, research and sustainable community development.

In particular, the establishment of inter-agency mechanisms between the Ifugao Rice Terraces Rehabilitation and Development Council and the GIAHS Sustainable Development Committee should be highlighted, as it provides an overarching mechanism to oversee the implementation of various projects and research on the property. It is recommended that the Committee also note with satisfaction the implementation of the Indigenous Peoples Education Program, the documentation of indigenous knowledge and the support for indigenous living traditions.

However, it is noted that conservation issues might continue to affect the property, especially in view of the moderate implementation rate of projects due to the discrepancy between the available human resources and the management workload for the property. In addition, the outmigration and economic development issues resulted in an apparent lack of interest in maintaining the rice terraces, while a shift from rice growing to more profitable agricultural items would result in a loss of traditional knowledge and practices. These challenges are being addressed in line with the Master Plan, and it is recommended that the Committee encourage the State Party to continue addressing these conservation issues accordingly.

Finally, it is recommended that the Committee also encourage the State Party to continue monitoring the implementation of regulations, to control infrastructure and physical developments within the property, and to address factors (including earthquakes and increasing storms and typhoons) that can become threats and result in major hazards. The Disaster Risk Preparedness Plan and climate change adaptation strategies to address increasing climate vulnerability should be implemented as soon as possible. In light of construction projects, including the energy plant projects that are planned in areas surrounding the property, it is also recommended that Heritage Impact Assessments be carried out for each project, in accordance with the relevant ICOMOS and IUCN guidelines.