Agricultural Terraces in Yemen

Agricultural terraces represent platforms formed on the slopes of mountains and hills to create level agricultural areas. This centuries-old technique is used around the world to increase the area of arable land in mountainous regions. The construction technique in Yemen is characterized by simplicity and effectiveness, with high flexibility and resistance to the elements of time.

Main benefits of agricultural terraces:

Erosion reduction: Terraces help form flat surfaces of arable soil and prevent water and wind erosion.
Efficient water management: They help retain water, which reduces the need for irrigation, slows water runoff, prevents soil erosion, helps irrigate crops, and feeds groundwater. It is considered a major means of absorbing and distributing seasonal rainwater harvesting.
Increased arable land: It allows the cultivation of steep slopes where it is impossible to sustain crop production without these terraces.

Agricultural terraces in Yemen represent a unique human creative achievement and a testament to ancient agricultural practices that have supported human societies in establishing authentic civilizations for thousands of years. The history of these terraces dates back to the dawn of civilization in Yemen, with evidence of their existence since at least the third millennium BC. The terraces form the backbone of the rural environment in Yemen and include most of the cultivated areas in the mountain range extending from the far north in Saada Governorate to Bab al-Mandab, where the majority of Yemen's population lives.

Criterion (v): to be an outstanding example of a traditional human settlement, land-use, or sea-use which is representative of a culture (or cultures), or human interaction with the environment especially when it has become vulnerable under the impact of irreversible change.

Agricultural terraces in Yemen are an outstanding example of human interaction with the environment for the following reasons:

Adaptation to challenging terrain: The terraces demonstrate a remarkable adaptation to Yemen's mountainous terrain. By creating level platforms on steep slopes, Yemenis have maximized arable land in a challenging environment. This ingenuity has allowed for successful agriculture for millennia in a region with limited flat land.
Water management in an arid climate: The terraces are designed to efficiently capture and retain scarce rainwater. This sophisticated system of water management has sustained agriculture in a hot, dry climate, showcasing human ingenuity in overcoming environmental limitations.
Continuing cultural tradition: The terraces are not just relics of the past; they are a living testament to a continuous cultural tradition. Farmers today still utilize and maintain these ancient systems, demonstrating the enduring value of this human-environment interaction.

Criterion (vi): to be directly or tangibly associated with events or living traditions, with ideas, or with beliefs, with artistic and literary works of outstanding universal significance. (The Committee considers that this criterion should preferably be used in conjunction with other criteria).

The agricultural terraces of Yemen stand among the most remarkable testimonies to human adaptability in the face of harsh mountainous environments. Over centuries, these terraces have been transformed into a sustainable productive system. Far from being merely agricultural structures, they represent an integrated environmental system and constitute an essential component of the cultural identity of local communities.

In this context, it is important to highlight the intangible cultural heritage associated with these terraces, which is embodied in the living traditions and community practices that continue to be transmitted across generations.

These traditions include:

Folk songs related to agricultural labor, performed collectively during planting and harvesting seasons. These songs reflect a spirit of cooperation and motivate collective effort.
Social customs, such as the equitable distribution of irrigation water according to precise customary regulations managed locally and widely respected within the community.
Inherited agricultural practices that contribute to soil sustainability and the preservation of biodiversity, including crop rotation and the use of organic fertilizers.
Rituals and community events that accompany agricultural seasons and are woven into the social fabric of rural life.

Among the most prominent of these community events are the traditional practices known as ‘al-ʿānah’, ‘al-ʿawn’, or ‘al-tajyīsh’—solidarity initiatives that bring together community members to restore terrace walls damaged by flash floods. These collective efforts are accompanied by traditional chants (zawāmil), songs (ahāzīj), and poems that serve to motivate work and express pride and belonging. A commonly recited chant during such occasions goes:

"I am a farmer, O mountains, roaming from high to low,
I build from the foot to the summit—terrace upon terrace."

Numerous other songs, rhythmic chants, and poems are also performed during these gatherings, expressing a deep bond between the people and their land.

Equally important is the aesthetic dimension that these terraces have brought to the natural landscape. They have become a rich source of inspiration for artists and photographers. Many visual artworks portray the harmony between humans and mountains and capture the profound sense of belonging between farmers and their land. The green, step-like terraces cascading down mountain slopes are among the most iconic themes in Yemeni photography. Artists’ lenses have documented breathtaking scenes that highlight the beauty of nature and the splendour of traditional agricultural architecture. This visual documentation has played a vital role in raising awareness of the environmental and cultural value of the terraces.

The sustainability of these terraces is inseparable from the sustainability of the culture that surrounds them. Their protection requires support for the communities that created and maintained them, the safeguarding of traditional knowledge and oral heritage, and the promotion of visual arts that preserve their image. From this perspective, Yemeni agricultural terraces are not merely aesthetic landscapes or productive assets—they are a living heritage that must be protected and promoted for the benefit of future generations.

The Terraces are also directly related to the history of Yemen, through:

Ancient origins: The terraces have a long history, dating back to the third millennium BC. They are tangible evidence of Yemen's ancient civilizations and their sophisticated agricultural practices.
Cultural landscape: The terraces shape the cultural landscape of Yemen. They are not just agricultural features but also integral to the country's visual identity, social organization, and traditional practices.
Resilience and continuity: The terraces have supported Yemeni communities for thousands of years, demonstrating a remarkable resilience in the face of environmental and social challenges. They symbolize the continuity of Yemeni culture and the enduring relationship between people and the land.

In Summary

By fulfilling both criteria (v) and (vi), Yemen's agricultural terraces demonstrate their outstanding universal value. They are not only a marvel of engineering and adaptation but also a powerful symbol of Yemen's rich history, cultural identity, and enduring relationship with the environment. This makes a compelling case for their recognition and protection as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Scientific studies using radiocarbon have shown that agricultural terraces in Yemen date back to at least the middle of the third millennium BC, making them the oldest model of agricultural terraces in the world. These terraces still form the backbone of agriculture in Yemen today and contribute to the continuation of life in mountainous areas. Agricultural terraces are still the main and prevalent form of agriculture until now, and it is expected that the importance and feasibility of these terraces will increase because of climate phenomena associated with climate change and an increase in the Earth's atmospheric temperature.

The agricultural terraces in Yemen represent one of the most prominent components of the country’s agrarian environment. They constitute the backbone of traditional agricultural practices and cover the majority of the mountainous regions inhabited by most of the population. Despite the ongoing environmental, economic, and social challenges facing the country, this agricultural system remains active and vibrant, supporting a range of farming activities including the cultivation of grains, coffee, oil seeds, and vegetables.

These terraces exemplify integrated ecological and cultural systems, contributing to soil conservation, water management, and food production, while also carrying rich intangible cultural heritage. This heritage is manifested in agricultural songs and community practices such as ʿānah or ʿawn, in which local groups collaborate to repair terrace walls after flash floods.

While some areas have experienced degradation due to natural or human factors, other regions have witnessed remarkable revitalization through community-driven and local initiatives aimed at restoring and reinvesting in these systems. This variation in conditions does not signify the decline of the terrace system but rather its resilience and capacity to adapt to change.

As part of the nomination process, the proposed serial sites within the broader framework of Yemen’s agricultural terraces will be selected with great care. The focus will be on regions where the terraces have remained functionally and culturally active for centuries, and where clear continuity of agricultural use and cultural tradition can be demonstrated. The risk of degradation or disappearance of these selected sites in the foreseeable future is considered very low, thanks to the stability of the local communities and their strong attachment to a system based on a harmonious relationship between humans and nature.

It may be argued that the ongoing armed conflict—despite its tragic and devastating impact on the country—has, in an unexpected way, spurred a return to terrace agriculture. Harsh conditions resulting from blockades, currency collapse, and import difficulties have driven many Yemenis to rediscover agriculture as a means of survival. Many areas have witnessed a notable movement toward building new terraces and rehabilitating deteriorated ones, driven by the urgent need to secure food and income amidst declining alternatives. This trend reflects not only the vitality of the terraces but also their potential to serve as a refuge in times of crisis.

The disappearance of agricultural terraces in Yemen is, in practical terms, inconceivable, as their existence is deeply rooted in the social, economic, and cultural life of Yemeni society. They are not merely stone-built structures, but rather a reflection of inherited identity, a tool for survival, and a symbol of the human relationship with the land in one of the most environmentally challenging terrains.

Thus, despite the obstacles they face, Yemen’s agricultural terraces continue to retain their original features and express a coherent ecological and cultural system that cannot be separated from the fabric of the communities that sustain it.