中国生态农业学报(中英文)

Research priorities, problems and countermeasures of Important Agricultural Heritage Systems and their conservation

MIN Qingwen

2020, 28(9): 1285-1293. doi: 10.13930/j.cnki.cjea.200493

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Abstract:
Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (IAHS) discussed in this paper, including Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) designated by Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and China Nationally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (China-NIAHS) designated by Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of the People's Republic of China (MARA), refer to the traditional agricultural systems with unique characteristics in economic development, ecosystem services, indigenous knowledge, folk cultures, and landscapes and/or seascapes, and having important significances in historical evolution and sustainable development of agriculture and rural areas. As of June, 2020, FAO has certificated 62 GIAHS sites from 22 countries and MARA has released five batches of 118 China-NIAHS sites which distribute in 28 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions. At the same time, IAHS and their conservation have caused more and more attention from scholars in different fields. Based on the researches focusing on some important fields such as concept and connotation, features and values, application and management, conservation and development and so forth, a new cross-discipline is emerging. In this paper, 12 research priorities on IAHS concept, connotation and characteristics, 20 research priorities on IAHS conservation were put forwarded. At last, based on the experiences enrolled in the field, the author discussed three problems existing in the current IAHS research: "interpreting without real understanding" causing the neglect of the main connotation; "mountain-stronghold mentality" separating the research team; and "eager for quick success and quick profit" weakening the long-term research. To cope with these problems, some suggestions are advanced: Firstly, to clarify the concept, connotation and subject orientation of IAHS, and recognize its' systemic, compound, and living features for improvement of disciplines and research paradigm of IAHS. Secondly, to establish an academic community for IAHS research and conservation of experts from multiple disciplines, such as ecological, social, economic and management sciences so as to provide solid S & T support for IAHS conservation. Thirdly, to encourage the comprehensive research of IAHS through setting the National Key R & D Program and long-term collaboration among institutions and administrative departments so as to gradually establish IAHS research network.

Bibliometrics and knowledge-mapping analysis of progress in agricultural heritage research in China: Based on the China Knowledge Network and Web of Science databases

CUI Feng, SHANG Jiuyang

2020, 28(9): 1294-1304. doi: 10.13930/j.cnki.cjea.200370

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Abstract:
Since initiation of the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) conservation program by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), academic communities have begun to focus more research efforts on agricultural heritage. The present study searched the China Knowledge Network (CNKI) and Web of Science databases for "agricultural heritage" studies published from 2006 to 2019 and analyzed 240 relevant articles using bibliometrics and knowledge mapping. From 2006 to 2019, researches of Chinese agricultural heritage had progressed in three stages: initial exploration, rapid growth, and steady development. In regard to journal carriers, a core group was formed of eight journals, which included "Agricultural History of China" "China Agricultural University Journal of Social Sciences Edition" "Resources Science" "Chinese Journal of Eco-Agriculture", and "Journal of Resources and Ecology". The Institute of Geographical Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Nanjing Agricultural University, for example, played important roles in academic research. And MIN Qingwen, WANG Siming, and their team members were among the most prolific authors. Meanwhile, agricultural heritage conservation and utilization, tourism development, and value assessment were the most common research focuses; and case studies were mainly concentrated in Yunnan, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Guizhou, Guangxi, and other provinces with globally and nationally important agricultural heritage systems. In respect to research methods, case studies and qualitative analysis were the most common. In the future, researchers should 1) continue to perform basic theoretical studies about the definition, classification, conservation mechanisms, and patterns of agricultural heritage; 2) develop new areas of agricultural heritage research, including investigation of its spatial and temporal evolution, development of monitoring and warning mechanisms, and assessment of economic-social-cultural-ecological environmental effects; 3) strengthen the research on agricultural heritage of key regions (e.g., "the Belt and Road" "the Grand Canal" "the Yellow River Basin", and "the Yangtze River Economic Belt") to meet the significant national strategic development needs; and 4) broaden research horizons by facilitating the integration of multidisciplinary theories, methods, technologies, and comprehensive applications and by establishing integrated agricultural heritage research communities.

Value of Important Agricultural Heritage Systems to the development of rural industries

WU Hexian, LUO Kanglong

2020, 28(9): 1305-1313. doi: 10.13930/j.cnki.cjea.200237

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Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (IAHS) that have been established and maintained by farmers and herders for thousands of years are unique and of considerable value to the development of rural industries due to their functions in maintaining agrobiodiversity and cultural diversity; enhancing ecosystem resilience; providing economic, cultural, and ecological services to local population. Firstly, IAHS are the foundation for the development of rural industries. They are rich in biology, technology, and culture. An in-depth understanding of the roles of IAHS in rural industries not only is the foundation of rural industries development, but also contributes to promoting their sustainability. The specific agricultural system and cultural landscape created and maintained by farmers and herders has been an important role in improving internal power of the countryside. The agricultural systems, cultural landscapes of IAHS should be highly valued and effectively protected to ensure IAHS become important part of local farmer's lives, and the foundation for rural industrial development. Secondly, making full use of IAHS is a basic approach for the development of rural industries. The protection and utilization of traditional varieties, technology and knowledge can improve the livelihoods of rural people and economic benefits of biodiversity; while the transmission and protection of IAHS may attract new investments, technologies, human resources for the development of agriculture. The combination of IAHS and modern science and technology through applying modern methods, techniques and means in IAHS may reinforce the IAHS effectiveness in rural industries development. It is also important to effectively connect ecological products of IAHS and modern social consumer groups through consumer psychological adjustment for IAHS utilization. Thirdly, the innovation of IAHS is an inevitable way for the sustainable development of rural industries. The innovation is to provide services to tradition, rather than replace the tradition. To promote the effectiveness of IAHS in development of rural industries in the context of ecological civilization, five aspects on innovation are necessary: 1) the innovation in terms of consumer targets and definition of the target consumers well in advance; 2) the innovation of service means and fully integration with national policies; 3) the innovation of service content and promotion of rural tourism; 4) the innovation of service spaces and promotion of the resources of IAHS; and 5) the innovation of services functions and reinforcement of ecological protection. In short, by preserving, utilizing, and innovating IAHS, current rural industries will have various approaches to ensuring sustainability of agriculture.

Value typology and evaluation of Important Agricultural Heritage Systems

HE Siyuan, MIN Qingwen, LI Heyao, LIU Moucheng, JIAO Wenjun, BAI Yanying

2020, 28(9): 1314-1329. doi: 10.13930/j.cnki.cjea.190881

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Abstract:
Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (IAHS) is regarded as a typical reserve for the sustainable utilization of natural resources. It is comprised of unique land-use systems and agricultural landscapes formed by long-term co-evolution and dynamic adaptation of rural communities and their environment. IAHS sites are rich in biodiversity and support of local socio-economic and cultural development. They also play a positive role in coordinating community livelihoods and ecological protection through their soil and water management strategies, knowledge systems, and cultural connotations. Therefore, it is of great significance to assess the value of IAHS for adaptive IAHS management per se, as well as optimizing the protected area system and its zoning-based management according to human-environment interactions. Our study first reviewed the value systems of related concepts, focusing on natural resource assets, ecosystem functions and services, and various types of natural and cultural heritage to generalize the value typology and assessment methods for heritage systems and their key elements. We then examined the uniqueness of IAHS based on our understanding of the general agricultural heritage systems (AHS) and the more specific Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) to ensure that characteristics such as complexity, vitality, and strategy were fully reflected in the value system. IAHS is comprised of both material and non-material parts. Its' complexity indicates the assimilation of values from natural and cultural heritage, as well as cultural landscapes. Vitality implies the system's dynamics based on its historical and current value as an adaptive system. Strategy defines the positive externality of IAHS towards people beyond its local area, determining its contribution to regional and global sustainable development strategies. Afterwards, the value typology of IAHS was proposed. The value system was firstly divided into existence and potential values to reflect the impact of IAHS on the current and future generation. The existence value was further separated into carrier and service values. The carrier value is the intrinsic value based on the physical formation of agricultural land as an asset stock during its historical period. The service value is the measure of flow from the stock. It is composed of nine values, namely the product value, ecological value, sci-tech value, social value, aesthetic value, cultural value, historical value, spiritual value, and brand value, and is further divided to 25 value elements at the lowest level. We also proposed possible evaluation methods and statistical approaches targeting at potential indicators of the existence value to obtain the monetary value of certain IAHS to better implement this multi-layered value system in policy making and conservation management. Key methods were selected from practices that evaluated ecosystem services, farmland, and natural resources, including the direct marketing method, substitutable marketing method, and simulated market method. Non-material value elements, which usually were only valued quantitatively, were discussed to determine the difficulty and possibility of quantitative accounting. As a result, the value typology can help managers identify IAHS conservation focal points according to the value connotation. The existence value must be well preserved. The potential value should be further studied. The conservation of the carrier value is mainly dependent on local farmland protection. Some service values benefiting large areas are better protected via regional cooperation. As a result, this research revealed the values embedded in human-environment interactions in the IAHS and interpreted their importance in maintaining a harmony between human and environment; thus providing a theoretical basis for spatial integration and management optimization of protected areas, as well as coordinative decision-making for regional conservation and development. It also provided a whole set of value systems and evaluation methods for the monetary value of IAHS; synthesized from quantitative or qualitative methods used in ecosystem services, natural resources assets, natural and cultural heritages, and brands.

Assessment framework of food and livelihood security in Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems

YANG Lun, WANG Guoping, MA Nan, LIU Moucheng, MIN Qingwen

2020, 28(9): 1330-1338. doi: 10.13930/j.cnki.cjea.190887

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Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) are a living, evolving system of human communities that represent traditional agricultural systems worldwide. Food and livelihood security are the core all-throughout the designation, conservation, and development of GIAHS. On one hand, food and livelihood security is one of the five basic selection criteria for GIAHS; GIAHS should be capable of maintaining basic food and livelihood security for households over a long period of time. On the other hand, the households are the most fundamental decision-making units, and their livelihood activities can drive the evolution of man-land relationship in GIAHS sites forward. However, there is currently a lack of research and discourse in current theoretical and practical conservation in these fields. Thus, based on the theory of Sustainable Livelihood Approach, this study constructed an assessment framework and indicator system for GIAHS, which is composed of two parts, food security and livelihood security. The supply, quality and diversity of material products are the core elements of food security assessment. The indicators system encompasses the supply of food products and supporting products, the quality of food products and environment, as well as the diversity of food products and supporting products. Among them, food product supply includes both the supply of primary food products and relevant food products. The supporting product supply includes both the supply of energy-related products and manure related products. The food product quality contains both the quality of primary food products and relevant food products. The environmental quality contains both the environmental quality of primary food products and relevant food products. Food product diversity covers the diversity of primary food products and relevant food products, and the proportion of traditional or endemic varieties in primary food products and in relevant food products. Supporting product diversity covers the diversity of energy-related products and manure related products, and the proportion of traditional or endemic varieties in energy-related products and in manure related products. For livelihood security assessment, the background, condition, and development of the farmers' livelihood are the core. The indicators system covers the circumstances of the external and inner family environment, the conditions of livelihood assets and outcomes, and the development of livelihood strategies and regional policies. Among them, the circumstance of the external environment includes the backgrounds of the natural, social, and economic environment. The inner family environmental background includes the households' demographic characteristics economic characteristics, and location characteristics. The conditions of livelihood assets contain the natural assets, physical assets, human assets, social assets, financial assets, cultural assets and informational assets. The condition of livelihood outcomes is comprised of the conditions of both household income and household consumption. Livelihood strategy development is comprised of the current situation of household livelihood strategies, and the outlook of agricultural livelihood strategies. The development of regional policies is composed of the development of agricultural policies and the development of rural employment policies. This study's innovation is to construct the assessment framework of food and livelihood security, based on multiple scales, involving farmers and a region in a GIAHS site; which satisfies the theoretical gap of GIAHS and related research, and provides a scientific basis for the designation, conservation, and development of GIAHS.

Impacts of eco-compensation on the farmers' production behavior of Hani Rice Terraces in China

LIU Moucheng, BAI Yunxiao, YANG Lun, JIAO Wenjun

2020, 28(9): 1339-1349. doi: 10.13930/j.cnki.cjea.200239

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Designing and formulating an ecological compensation mechanism for farmland non-point source pollution can effectively promote the environmental management and protection of farmland. However, the efficacy of compensation policies depends on the levels of acceptance, response, and implementation of such policies by farmers. In order to study the influence of different ecological compensation standards on the optimization of farmers' production behavior, we examined the case of the Hani Rice Terraces in Yunnan Province, China. We divided the farmers into two groups who cultivate at high and low altitudes respectively, and built a multi-objective production decision model based on the multi-objective utility model. By increasing the compensation amount in the profit function and setting different compensation standards, we simulated the production behavior of farmers in two groups under different compensation standards and analyzed the impact of different compensation standards on farmers' planting decisions and welfare. The results showed that although the policy of ecological compensation was aimed at reducing the use of fertilizers and pesticides, the additional income thus generated had stimulated farmers' enthusiasm for agricultural production. Driven by the pursuit of economic benefits, farmers invested more in terms of labor, tended to adopt more complex but higher-yielding planting structures. With an increase in the ecological compensation standard, the sensitivity of farmers' planting decision to the standard gradually decreased. In this regard, however, the high-altitude group was found to be more sensitive to the standard than the low-altitude group, and their planting structure changed to a significantly greater extent than that of the the low-altitude group. Furthermore, the intensity of fertilizer and pesticide input of the high-altitude group decreased to a greater extent than that of the low-altitude group. When the ecological compensation rate reached 3 000 ¥·hm^-2, the area ratios of rice, maize, intercopped soybean, and intercropped maize were 60%, 4%, 18%, and 18%, respectively; and fertilizer and pesticide usage was reduced by 37%, 49%, 37%, and 44%, respectively. Ecological compensation standards ultimately impacted farmers' incomes by changing their cropping decisions and chemical inputs. In the high-altitude group, the total benefits of farmers initially decreased but subsequently increased with an increase in the compensation rate. When the ecological compensation rate was 1 650 ¥·hm^-2, the benefits reached an inflection point. When the rate exceeded 1 650 ¥·hm^-2, not only did the farmers reduce the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, they also got a relative higher income. However, for the low-altitude group, the total yields of rice, maize monoculture, and maize intercropped with soybean continued to decline, and the reduction in pesticide and fertilizer application had a more pronounced impact on the total yields. Moreover, the response of farmers in this group to ecological compensation was also less positive. In this study, we demonstrated that agro-ecological compensation policies aimed at limiting chemical inputs would incentivize farmers to change their cropping decisions to compensate for the losses caused by a reduction in chemical inputs. Despite such reductions, changes in cropping patterns gave rise to uncertainty regarding total chemical inputs and farm household welfare. The results of this study accordingly highlight the importance of paying attention to changes in farmers' behavior in different environment during the implementation of ecological compensation policies. Ecological compensation has a significant effect on farmers' production behavior, and this effect is related to the production environment.

Building a monitoring system for Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) based on the monitoring experience of World Heritage

JIAO Wenjun, ZHAO Guigen, MIN Qingwen, LIU Moucheng, YANG Lun

2020, 28(9): 1350-1360. doi: 10.13930/j.cnki.cjea.200050

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To conserve important traditional agricultural systems of global, the FAO initiated a global partnership on the dynamic conservation and adaptive management of Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) in 2002. After more than ten years of development, China now has the largest number of GIAHS in the world, while at the same time faces the largest degree of pressure relating to the conservation and management of GIAHS. Scientific monitoring plays an essential role in the improvement of heritage management. Effective heritage monitoring can, not only highlight the conservation needs of the heritage site itself and the maintenance of its values, but also contribute to the sustainable development of the heritage site. However, monitoring of GIAHS in China is a relatively new enterprise and lacks the theoretical knowledge needed to support effective monitoring; not to mention the design and establishment of a GIAHS monitoring system at the national level. Therefore, this paper first fully reviewed the experience and practice of World Heritage monitoring, and then elaborated on the key issues of GIAHS monitoring, with reference to World Heritage, such as the concept and connotation, scope and content, and data collection and management. Based on these issues, this paper put forward a monitoring system for GIAHS consisting of a three-leveled monitoring network, a dynamic monitoring system, and a two-leveled inspection system. The dynamic monitoring system is the core part of the GIAHS monitoring system, comprised of monitoring scope, contents, methods, and data management. The scope of GIAHS monitoring was defined as the changes in agriculture heritage systems and their associated conservation and development measures. The contents of GIAHS monitoring included value changes in ecological conservation, economic development, social maintenance, and cultural heritage, as well as management measures in capacity building, publicity, demonstration, and diffusion. As these contents varied in time and space, GIAHS monitoring should be carried out at multiple levels, such as the annual report and the survey report. The three-leveled monitoring network and the two-leveled inspection system were the foundations of the GIAHS monitoring. Not only did the two approaches help form a monitoring and patrol mechanism combining active monitoring with passive supervision, but also help form a closed loop by monitoring data collection and evaluation results feedback, so as to greatly improve the scientificity and systematicness of the conservation and management of GIAHS. The established monitoring system can, not only enrich the theoretical knowledge relating to GIAHS monitoring and further promote the practice of GIAHS monitoring in China, but also help improve GIAHS monitoring across the world.

A GIAHS Resilience Assessment Framework based on SEPLS model and its application in the conservation effectiveness assessment

MA Nan, MIN Qingwen, JIAO Wenjun, Nadia Bergamini

2020, 28(9): 1361-1369. doi: 10.13930/j.cnki.cjea.190907

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Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) sites, designated by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), are typical Socio-Ecological Production Landscapes and Seascapes (SEPLS). They play an important role in many areas, including the inheritance and conservation of traditional knowledge, food safety, agrobiodiversity conservation, and climate change adaptation. In order to more effectively promote GIAHS conservation and management, this article constructed a "GIAHS Resilience Assessment Framework (GIAHS-RAF)" founded on a comprehensive discussion of the importance of assessing GIAHS sites and resilience concepts. This framework was based on the Resilience Assessment Framework of Socio-ecological Production Landscapes and Seascapes model (SEPLS Model) developed by a team including the United Nations University (UNU), and clarified the purpose and defined the evaluation and calculation process. We used the GIAHS-RAF to assess the conservation effectiveness of the first GIAHS site in China, the Qingtian Rice-Fish Culture System in Zhejiang Province (RFC), from 2004 (one year before GIAHS certification) to 2016 (11 years after GIAHS certification). The results showed that the overall resilience of "Longxian Village" (core area of RFC) in 2016 was weak, with the scores of five capitals being 0.75 (material capital), 0.63 (economic capital), 0.61 (human capital), 0.57 (social capital), and 0.38 (natural capital). Additionally, we found that despite diverse local resident incomes and a social and economic infrastructure that adequately met community needs, problems such as local species loss and resident dissatisfaction with food diversity still existed. Compared to 2004, the resilience of the system after 11 years of conservation was higher which implied that implementation of the GIAHS initiative had a positive effect on traditional agricultural system, especially the material and economic capitals. These results are consistent with existing research results and field investigations, proving that the GIAHS-RAF can be satisfactorily applied to the assessment of the conservation effectiveness of GIAHS sites and other agricultural heritage systems.

Evaluation of the Xinghua Duotian Traditional Agrosystem in Jiangsu Province based on the evaluation methods of the Important Agricultural Heritage Systems

LI Heyao, HE Siyuan, MIN Qingwen, ZHU Huilin, WU Lianyong

2020, 28(9): 1370-1381. doi: 10.13930/j.cnki.cjea.190882

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Effective management of Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (IAHS) hinges on a comprehensive understanding of their complexity, reflected in multiple values. These values include, but are not limited to, ecological, social, and cultural values, thus entailing an integrated value typology and possible quantitative evaluation approaches, focusing on the complex and dynamic agro-systems with strategic significance to human development. It is necessary to apply this value typology to specific cases so that certain evaluation indices can be proposed and valuation methods tested to confirm their practical feasibility, and to identify any gaps between theory and practice. With this in mind, and for a better understanding of the multiple functions of the Xinghua Duotian Traditional Agro-system (XDTA) in Jiangsu Province, a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS), this research assessed its values according to the value typology. For the first time, the value of a GIAHS site was assessed, and as a second part of the two-part series of value typology and evaluation of IAHS, this paper presented a core value distribution in order to promote multi-stakeholder participation in conservation and development of the heritage site. Based on the constructed value system of the IAHS, this paper selected indices relevant to the land use and ecosystems of the XDTA, and collected data from multiple sources including the literature, statistical yearbooks, and social survey. The existence value of this GIAHS in 2016 was assessed following appropriate calculation approaches based on previously proposed evaluation methods, which covered a direct market approach, alternative market approach, and simulated market approach. Most of these approaches were widely used and proved feasible in the evaluation of natural resources and ecosystem services. The results showed that the total value of XDTA in 2016 was 68.581 billion RMB Yuan, of which the carrier value was 36.309 billion RMB Yuan and the service value was 32.272 billion RMB Yuan. For the service value, the brand value was 11.174 billion RMB Yuan, the ecological value was 10.240 billion RMB Yuan, the product value was 7.257 billion RMB Yuan, and the value of science, technology, society, aesthetics, culture, history, and spirit summed up to 3.600 billion RMB Yuan. Therefore, as a GIAHS, XDTA is a multi-type value carrier, the value system of which can reflect the multiple functions and global significance of GIAHS. Carrier value is the base for other product and service values, and a wide range of ecological values and outstanding brand values were also identified. These results could be regarded as basis for targeted conservation and brand value promotion for local governors. The research process and the aforementioned results indicate that the proposed value typology system is applicable to certain heritage sites, with their specific features reflected and evaluated by carefully selected indices and a combination of evaluation approaches. Value composition and distribution can be manifested to support targeted conservation management and to further integrate protected area management. However, more accurate evaluation is highly dependent on the selection of indices and their evaluation, which is achievable by deeper research into the explanation and quantification of non-materialistic values. Through index system optimization and dynamic monitoring of heritage sites, it is possible to generate a consistent value database to assist in the sustainable management of the heritage.

Framework for evaluating the development suitability of tourism resources in agricultural heritage systems: A case study of Qingyuan County in Zhejiang Province

WANG Bojie, HE Siyuan, MIN Qingwen, CUI Feng, WANG Bin, LIU Xianyang, BAI Yunxiao

2020, 28(9): 1382-1396. doi: 10.13930/j.cnki.cjea.200074

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The tourism resources of agricultural heritage systems (AHS) are abundant mainly owing to their distinct landscape, farming technology, agro-biodiversity, culture and knowledge of traditional agro-system formed during long-term human-nature interactions. However, AHS tourism differs from mass tourism due to these distinct features, especially its high fragility, sensitivity, and comprehensiveness. Therefore, it is critical that such features be considered during tourism resource development and AHS sites management. Tourism resource evaluation and suitable evaluation indices are the premise of sustainable tourism development and effective site protection. Accordingly, the present study aimed to evaluate the temporal and spatial suitability of AHS tourism resources, such as their seasonality and remoteness or distribution. A three-dimensional evaluation framework was developed that considered resource elements values, spatial suitability, and temporal suitability as the dimension level. Seven criterion levels, historical culture value, art value, scientific research value, natural environment, traffic accessibility, resources scale potential and tourist comfort composed the criterion levels, which were further expressed by 15 indexes. Meanwhile, the weights of criterion levels and indexes, in the evaluation framework, were determined using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Entropy Weight Method (EWM), and the development suitability was analyzed using GIS and Multi-criteria Evaluation (MCE). Finally, the evaluation framework was applied to Qingyuan County in Zhejiang Province, location of the Qingyuan Mushroom Cultural System in Zhejiang Province which was certificated as one of the China Nationally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (China-NIAHS) sites in 2014. The evaluation results showed that the development suitability of AHS tourism resources in the county was "high in the center and low around the edges". In the central Qingyuan, the towns of Songyuan, Wudabao, Sishan, Xianliang, and Baishanzu were greatest in evaluation scores, which indicated their relatively greater development potential. In southern Quingyuan, the natural tourism resources in the towns of Annan, Jushui, Lingtou, and Longxi were favorable; however, the overall tourism development suitability of the towns was greatly reduced by their poor accessibility. In eastern Qingyuan, the tourism development suitabilities of Zuoxi, Guantang, and Jianggen were limited by the paucity of tourism resources. In terms of temporal distribution, late spring (April and May) and autumn (October) were the most favorable seasons for tourism. The case study confirmed that the evaluation system could be applied to AHS sites. According to the evaluation results, it is possible that suitability of tourism resource development of towns in southern and eastern Qingyaun, which are either difficult to access or insufficient in tourism resources, could be enhanced if local governments intensified the construction of transportation infrastructure and combined agricultural heritage and dispersed tourism resources to promote regional tourism networking and increase the acceptable travel time of tourists. From the perspective of development suitability, the evaluation framework of agricultural heritage tourism resources provides both theoretical support and methodological guidance for the evaluation and development of AHS sites.

Comprehensive evaluation of agriculture labor productivity in Pidu Linpan Farming System in Chengdu urban fringe

YANG Bo, HE Lu, MIN Qingwen

2020, 28(9): 1397-1404. doi: 10.13930/j.cnki.cjea.190897

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Improving agricultural labor productivity is essential for promoting agricultural and rural development and is the basic requirement of rural revitalization strategies. The comprehensive evaluation of agricultural labor productivity is the basis of rural development strategy suitable for the local conditions. With Pidu Linpan Farming System in the suburban area of Chengdu, designated as one of the China Nationally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (China-NIAHS) sites in 2020, as a case, this study quantitatively evaluated agricultural labor productivity, labor participation rate, and labor intensity index of 12 agricultural towns (subdistricts). Multiple regression analysis was used to research the main influencing factors of labor productivity. The results showed that the agricultural labor productivity of the overall Pidu Linpan Farming System was 4.03×10⁴ ￥·capita^-1, and the labor intensity was 54.69% in 2017. There were large differences in agricultural labor productivity and labor intensity among 12 agricultural towns. The agricultural labor productivity and labor intensity index of the heritage were higher in northern towns and lower in southern ones. The highest agricultural labor productivity (6.35×10⁴ ￥·capita^-1) was in Tangyuan Town, and the lowest (1.72×10⁴ ￥·capita^-1) was in Pitong Town. The labor intensity index of northern towns, such as Hongguang, Tangyuan, and Tangchang, was higher than 65%, while that of southern towns was lower than the overall level of the heritage. The agricultural labor participation and urbanization rates showed spatial heterogeneity, and the labor participation rate of the northwest region was higher than the southeast region. Among them, the highest agricultural labor participation rate (45.57%) was in Xinminchang Town, and the lowest (8.46%) was in Hongguang. Among the factors of agricultural production conditions, the increase of energy consumption per unit output value, fertilizer application amount per unit area farmland, agricultural area per capita, and agricultural labor participation rate promoted agricultural labor productivity. The first two factors had a greater impact on agricultural labor productivity than the latter two in the heritage. The standardization regression coefficient of energy consumption per unit output value and fertilizer application amount per unit area farmland were more than 0.93, while those of agricultural area per capita and agricultural labor participation rate were 0.637 and 0.282, respectively. Further analysis revealed that, as an important part of the Pidu Linpan Farming System, the pattern of crop rotation in flooded land and dry land was helpful to improve the utilization efficiency of land and labor resources, which promoted the farmers' concurrent business. Therefore, the agricultural development of the agricultural heritage should start from spatial differentiation, production modernization, and industrial diversification to promote rural revitalization in the adjacent areas of the city. While making full use of the advantages of urban fringe in capital and technology, the farmland rotation pattern should be maintained, and the sustainable development of agriculture in the northwestern towns and the construction of infrastructure and the processing industry in the southeastern towns should be strengthened. Based on the unsaturated state of labor intensity, farmers should be encouraged to make better use of their leisure time, develop diversified businesses and expand channels for increasing their income, and promote rural revitalization in areas as an urban fringe.

Analysis of the economic driving force for protecting Important Agricultural Heritage Systems based on the return rate on labor input: A case study of the Kuancheng Traditional Chestnut Cultivation System in Hebei Province

HE Lulu, ZHANG Yongxun, HONG Chuanchun, MIN Qingwen

2020, 28(9): 1405-1413. doi: 10.13930/j.cnki.cjea.190920

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Abstract:
Under the background of urbanization and industrialization, many Agricultural Heritage Systems (AHS) sites in mountainous areas still maintain traditional small-scale agriculture (TSA) that relies on human labor due to the difficulty in using modern machinery. TSA has been widely regarded as a relatively small industry owing to a low annual income. TSA in AHS sites usually has a history of over thousands of years and is important for maintaining a living for local households. Why are there still a large number of farmers engaged in agriculture in AHS sites? From an economic perspective, this paper selected the China Nationally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (China-NIAHS), Kuancheng Traditional Chestnut Cultivation System in Hebei Province, as an example, taking the chestnut farming household as a basic unit, to examine its sustainability. Data were collected by using the random questionnaire method. The survey information included the direct material inputs, labor inputs, outputs of chestnut farming, and the migrant workers' workplace information, duration and income. The labor consumption of chestnut farming and migrant work were accurately calculated. The labor input-return (LIR) model was constructed to calculate the LIR rate of chestnut farming and migrant work in each chestnut farming household. A comparative analysis was carried out to identify differences. Results showed that chestnut farming households usually had a small farmland area (about 0.57 hectare per household) and most maintained traditional production methods. Only a few households used fertilizers and pesticides to farm chestnut trees. An average household spent 121.4 laborsxdays in cultivating chestnuts due to extensive management. An average chestnut farming household had 2 migrant workers and each spent 8.9 months per year doing migrant work. Each chestnut farming household thus expended 537 labors×days for migrant work. The labor input of migrant work was 4.4 times that of chestnut farming. Likewise, a chestnut farming household often had an annual income of 15 623.3 Yuan RMB from chestnut farming due to the relatively high price of chestnut, and could get an annual income of 59 243.7 Yuan RMB from non-farm jobs due to the low degree of peasant culture, skills shortage, and low monthly income. However, the results showed that TSA had a higher LIR rate (1.2 times) than migrant work. This is contrary to the common impression that TSA is a low benefit system. This also explains why most farmers are unwilling to give up chestnut planting from an economic perspective. Chestnut farming does not require a lot of labor input and each chestnut farming household has surplus laborers to perform migrant work, so they can adapt to the social and economic transformation.

Relationship between tourists' environmental responsibility behavior and food preference in agricultural heritage sites: A case study of Qingtian Rice-fish Culture System

SU Yingying, WANG Ying, SUN Yehong, MIN Qingwen, JIAO Wenjun

2020, 28(9): 1414-1424. doi: 10.13930/j.cnki.cjea.200044

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Abstract:
Traditional food is an important tourism resource in agricultural heritage sites, and tourists' diet preferences affect their choice of tourism products. As an important part of sustainable tourism research, tourists' environmental responsibility behavior is of great significance to the sustainable development of tourism destinations. In order to investigate the relationship between tourists' environmentally responsible behavior and traditional food tourism preferences, a case study was conducted in the Qingtian Rice-fish Culture System, a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) site. The following three factors of tourists' environmentally responsible behavior were determined, which were traditional food cognitive factors, environmentally responsible attitude factors, and environmentally responsible behavior factors. At the same time, three types of tourists' traditional food preferences were established, which were pursuing traditional food flavors, participating in traditional food experiences, and pursuing traditional food cultural experiences, which accounted for 38.05%, 35.63%, and 26.31%, respectively. Among them, tourists who pursued traditional food flavors focused on the taste type, environment, and other eating experiences of the food; tourists who participated in traditional food experiences concentrated on the food production process and part of the cultural connotation; and tourists who experienced the culture of traditional food paid more attention on local cultures, ecological protections, applications of local food materials, and the cultural value transmitted by the traditional food. The three environmentally responsible behaviors of tourists who valued traditional food cultural experiences were the strongest, and that of tourists who valued traditional flavors were the weakest. Finally, the regression analysis of tourists' environmentally responsible behavior factors and traditional food preference factors showed a positive correlation. However, we should consider the food preference of different types of tourists in agricultural heritage sites and avoid the problems of food culture destruction and ecological security in order to attract public tourists.

Identifying factors driving income difference in China Nationally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems site based on Geographical Detectors: Ar Horqin Banner as a case study

LI Zhidong, RAO Didi, LIU Moucheng, WANG Guoping, DING Lubin

2020, 28(9): 1425-1434. doi: 10.13930/j.cnki.cjea.200024

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Abstract:
The preservation and development of Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (IAHS) is popular among scholars across multiple disciplines and currently enjoys strong national support. A major step toward achieving sustainable development of IAHS sites is integration of relevant loco-regional factors—including industrial, geographic, and environmental—into strategies maximizing local economic potential. While industrial conditions and geographic limitation of environmental resources are known to influence the preservation and development of IAHS, most prior studies incorporated such information only qualitatively. This study used the Geographical Detectors, a quantitative spatial analysis methodology, to identify and rank key factors limiting local economy growth, which was measured with the net income per capita. Chifeng City's Ar Horqin Banner was used as a case study, in where Bayanwenduer Sumu (Town) is the location of a China Nationally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (China-NIAHS)—Ar Horqin Grassland Nomadic System. The Geographical Detectors encompassing six major spatial factors (two industrial factors—primary industry type, degree of secondary and tertiary industries development; and four geography environmental factors—transportation convenience, water supply capacity, topographic elevation, and the presence of national nature reserves) was used to identify driving forces potentially influencing income underlying regional inequality of net income per capita. The primary industry type and degree of secondary and tertiary industries development were determined as two main driving forces of differences in net income per capita. The transportation convenience, water supply capacity, topographic elevation, and the presence of national nature reserves also increased the differences in net income per capita to a certain extent, but their effects on spatial distribution of income was significantly different from the previous two industrial factors. For the China-NIAHS site Bayanwenduer Sumu, major identified income-limiting factors included an agricultural production method based on animal husbandry (q=0.30) and a relatively small proportion of workers employed within secondary and tertiary industries (q=0.37). Factors identified as independently limiting income to a lesser degree include transportation convenience (q=0.11) and topographic elevation (q=0.15). Evidence-based hypothetical solutions deriving from these observations consisted of regional development focused on three aspects: (1) transformation of traditional animal husbandry practices while preserving IAHS, (2) positioning IAHS as a distinctive brand in order to promote unique agricultural products and tourism, and (3) improvement of infrastructure in preparation for industrial development. Such findings provide a scientific basis for promulgation of local governmental policy regarding IAHS resource regulation and economic development.

Characteristics, value, and conservation of litchi heritage systems in China: A case study of the Lingnan Litchi Cultivation System (Zengcheng)

ZHAO Fei, LIAO Meijing, ZHANG Jia'en, HUANG Min, ZHANG Zhanhui

2020, 28(9): 1435-1442. doi: 10.13930/j.cnki.cjea.190799

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Abstract:
The litchi (Litchi chinensis) known as the "King of Fruits", originated from China and has historic significance in Chinese culture. China is currently the largest producer of litchi and is considered to have the richest and finest litchi cultivars in the world. The current system used to cultivate litchi in China conserves past agricultural heritage systems that are recognized globally. Thus, it is of great significance to study the conservation and development of litchi heritage for its Chinese characteristics and global influence. This study aimed to investigate the characteristics, value, and conservation of the litchi heritage system using a typical Guangdong litchi heritage system—the Lingnan Litchi Cultivation System (Zengcheng), as a case study. Guangdong is referred to as the "Kingdom of Litchi" because the province is the largest (and considered the best) producer of litchi in China. The Lingnan Litchi Cultivation System (Zhengcheng) located in Zengcheng District, Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province is recognized as a China Nationally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems site. The present study was based on assessment of field methods, and in-depth interviews, performed at the site. The findings revealed that the Lingnan Litchi Cultivation System (Zhengcheng) with 2 000 years cultivation history possesses rich cultural resources (including historical relic, folklore, literature, art, and cultural landscape), demonstrates advanced farming techniques (such as terrace planting and fruit-base-pond), contains genetically diverse germplasms (more than 70 cultivars, 50 of them are native), while also maintaining numerous historically significant ancient litchi trees. The Lingnan Litchi Cultivation System (Zengcheng), located in the south subtropical zone, is an agricultural production and cultural system with great values in ecology, economy and culture. However, Zengcheng litchi heritage sustainability is currently faced with threats posed by urban expansion and the development of modern agriculture practices. Additionally, a lack of countermeasures to ensure the protection of ancient litchi trees and inadequate recognition of the heritage value of these sites are of growing concern. Based on our findings we recommend several measures be undertaken to ensure the conservation of litchi heritage systems in China. Our first recommendation is the selection of the representative areas of Mountain Litchi and Water Litchi to build pastoral museums. Moreover, implementation of protection measures to secure the ongoing management and maintenance of ancient litchi trees should be a priority. Also important is the strengthening of attitudes toward the cultural significance of litchi heritage systems, while also promoting the upgrading, and development of litchi industry by focusing on the development of litchi industrial parks, characteristic towns, and farms. The findings of the present case study, and recommended conservation measures, can be used as a point of reference for other similar heritage sites. In the future, litchi agricultural heritage system sites should be jointly applied for the 'Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems' to ensure the ongoing conservation and recognition of litchi heritage systems in China.

Landscape characteristics and evolution of Qingyuan Mushroom Cultural System, Zhejiang Province

WEI Xuexin, LIU Yang, LIU Ronggao, MIN Qingwen

2020, 28(9): 1443-1452. doi: 10.13930/j.cnki.cjea.190872

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Abstract:
As the birthplace of the artificial cultivation of Lentinus edodes, Qingyuan County in Zhejiang Province has been considered a site of China Nationally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems. Moreover, Qingyuan Mushroom Cultural System in Zhejiang Province is applying for the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) site. Agricultural heritage is the crystallization of the ancient people's wisdom paired with the wealth of modern society. Agricultural heritage landscape is the most direct expression of agricultural heritage in modern life. Studying landscape characteristics and evolution helps us understand the regional landscape and its influencing factors, so as to implement effective protection and development strategies for heritage sites. In this paper, satellite images from Landsat in 1991, 2001, 2010 and 2018 were obtained and combined with field research. Firstly, vegetation indices and a random forest classifier were used to study the current status, characteristics and structure of landscape of the heritage site of traditional mushroom cultivation system. Then, a land use transfer matrix was used to analyze the direction of evolution and rules of different landscapes. Finally, the related forestry policies and meteorological factors were chosen to study the possible driving factors of the area changes of landscapes from 1991 to 2018. The results show that: 1) The landscape types of heritage sites include forest, cultivated land, residential land and bodies of water, among which forest is the dominant landscape type, with its area reaching 1 643.23 km² and accounting for 86.61% of the total area. The area of cultivated land, residential land and water is 213.72 km², 33.76 km² and 6.54 km² respectively, accounting for 11.26%, 1.78% and 0.34%, respectively. 2) The traditional cultivation system landscape is rich in high mountains, dense forests, streams and mushroom resources, forming a vertical landscape structure of "river-village-terraced-forest", and has plenty of unique mushroom cultural landscapes such as the Xiyang Temple, Wu Sangong Shrine and ancient mushroom shed. 3) From 1991 to 2018, the forest area in the heritage sites increased by 139.28 km² (7.34%), the cultivated land decreased by 154.53 km² (8.15%), the residential land increased by 11.86 km² (0.63%), and the water bodies increased by 3.48 km² (0.18%). 4) Landscape change is closely related to relevant policies. At the end of the 20th century, deforestation was prevalent in heritage sites and the forest coverage decreased from 79.27% to 77.97%. Since the 21st century, the mountains closure for forestation and ecological forestry construction has achieved remarkable results, with forest coverage rising from 77.97% to 86.61%. The policy of Grain for Green and increased urbanization promoted the decrease in cultivated land and the expansion of residential land, respectively.

Protection and utilization of agricultural species diversity and genetic diversity in Shexian Dryland Terrace System

HE Xianlin, WANG Haifei, LIU Guoxiang, WANG Yuxia, CHEN Yuming, JIA Hetian, WANG Liye

2020, 28(9): 1453-1464. doi: 10.13930/j.cnki.cjea.190819

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Abstract:
Research on dynamic conservation strategies and processes in protecting agrobiodiversity is an essential element of Important Agricultural Heritage Systems conservation. Shexian Dryland Terrace System centered in Wangjinzhuang Village, Shexian County, Hebei Province was recognized as a China-NIAHS (Nationally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems) in 2014. This study focused on Wangjinzhuang Village's conservation and utilization of agrobiodiversity, aiming to provide a basis for guiding the in situ conservation and sustainable utilization of the Shexian Dryland Terrace System and to provide a reference for other Important Agricultural Heritage Systems in China and abroad. The field research and baseline data collection were conducted with comprehensive methods, including household surveys, individual interviews, group discussions, and in field experiments in Wangjinzhuang Village in 2019. Systematic research was used to collect abundant agricultural species and traditional farmer varieties, as well as the conservation and utilization experiences and associated technologies in Wangjinzhuang Village. The research identified and registered 77 species, 57 genera, and 26 families, including 171 traditional farmer varieties cultivated or managed in the Shexian Dryland Terrace System. The species included 15 grain crops, 31 vegetable crops, 5 oil crops, 14 fruit crops, and 12 medical, textile, and tobacco plants. The traditional farmer varieties included 62 grain crops, 57 vegetable crops, 7 oil crops, 33 fruit crops, and 12 medical, textile, and tobacco plants. These agricultural species and traditional farmer varieties had been actively passed on by a series of conservation and utilization techniques such as mixed planting, crop rotation, intercropping, and premium seed selection in maintaining agrobiodiversity sustainable for generations. After hundreds of years, local varieties could still meet people's diverse food needs. However, with the rapid development of urbanization and modern agriculture, the conservation and utilization of agrobiodiversity in the Shexian Dryland Terrace System are facing problems such as role conflicts of agricultural institutions, continuous degradation of unique local genetic resources and traditional technologies, confusion over the names of traditional farmer varieties, degradation of germplasm resources, loss of variety diversity due to monoculture, loss of locally adaptive varieties due to the single pursuit of high yield, weakening of terraced agriculture caused by the diversification of farmers' livelihoods, low comparative efficiency of traditional farmer varieties, and lack of awareness of their importance. Given these problems, countermeasures and suggestions are advanced to establish dynamic conservation and adaptive management mechanisms, such as developing featured industries, stimulating farmers' endogenic motivation, organizing and conducting genetic resource surveys, and establishing in situ conservation mechanisms for traditional farmer varieties combined with community seed banks and farmers' self-saved seeds.

Gini coefficient-based spatial distribution features of Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) and their influence factors

LIU Haitao, LUO Ming, XU Ming, LIU Yannan, CHEN Baoqing, ZHAO Wen, HUANG Bo

2020, 28(9): 1465-1474. doi: 10.13930/j.cnki.cjea.200124

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Abstract:
Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) is recognized by Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). After nearly 20 years of development, 59 GIAHS exist across 22 countries. For a long time, researchers in different fields have provided technical support for the conservation and development of GIAHS, focusing on concept and connotation, structure and function, traditional ecological wisdom, knowledge and technology systems, tourism development, ecological compensation mechanism, and more. However, the global spatial distribution features and influencing factors of GIAHS remain understudied. Studying the spatial distribution of GIAHS and its influencing factors will help to fully grasp the geographic changes and regional differences of GIAHS resources, and provide important references for the recognition and conservation of global agricultural civilization. Based on the 59 projects listed on the GIAHS by March 2020, this study used the Gini coefficient method to analyze the global spatial distribution features of GIAHS from the perspective of the Eastern and Western Hemispheres, the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, and continental and national perspectives. The Gini coefficients of GIAHS are 0.63, 0.68, 0.76, and 0.83, respectively, and the uniformity coefficients of GIAHS are 0.37, 0.32, 0.24, and 0.17, respectively, in five continents, different latitudes, different longitudes, and recognized countries. The results show that there is a strong concentration and low uniformity of GIAHS across the measured regional scales. Asia has the highest GIAHS distribution, followed by Africa and Europe, while relatively few exist in the Americas. GIAHS are mainly distributed in the Northern Hemisphere, especially between 30°-60°N. They are also concentrated in the Eastern Hemisphere, especially between 100°-160°E. The concentration of GIAHS in the recognized countries is very high, and the number of GIAHS in China, Japan, and Korea exceeds half of the total. The distribution of GIAHS is influenced by climate conditions and geography, agricultural origination centers, influence of GIAHS and concept of national development, and more. The countries at the center of the agricultural origin account for the majority of GIAHS-recognized countries. GIAHS recognition potential is high in those countries with complex climates that are important to GIAHS. At the same time, the existing GIAHS have a very high degree of climate type concentration and a very low distribution uniformity, mainly concentrated in the temperate and tropical monsoon climates. This paper suggests that it is necessary to carry out a census in different latitudes and climatic zones to recognize agricultural and fishery systems in small island countries, and to increase support for economically underdeveloped countries. As a firm supporter and major contributor to GIAHS, China should make full use of its accumulated experience and international influence to promote the further optimization of GIAHS work in FAO.

2020 Vol. 28, No. 9