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Agricultural Heritage Systems (AHS) have high economic value. In addition, their protection and management focus on the dynamic conservation and sustainable development of heritage sites, which play an important role in the economic development of such sites and have attracted the attention of many scholars. However, the economic effects of AHS recognition on heritage sites have not been well described in previous research. Therefore, taking the Phoenix Oolong tea culture system in Chao'an, Guangdong Province, as an example and selecting Chao'an District and Raoping County as research areas, this study attempts to explore the contribution of AHS identification to the economic growth of heritage sites. First, it collected economic data on the heritage site (Chao'an District) and control area (Raoping County) from 2010 to 2019. From the perspective of total volume change and industrial development, this study compared the difference in economic growth between heritage sites and control areas after China's Nationally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (China-NIAHS) were recognized. Subsequently, using interrupted time series analysis, this study quantitatively analyzed the significance of the changing trend of economic growth and industrial development difference between the two areas after this recognition. Based on these results, combined with a field investigation, this study discusses the specific path of AHS identification that affects heritage sites' economic growth. The results show that after the identification of the Phoenix Oolong tea agricultural system in Guangdong Province, the tourism and tea industry in Chao'an District developed rapidly, and tourism income increased significantly, which is conducive to local economic growth. Specifically, after the identification of the Phoenix Oolong tea culture system in Chao'an, Guangdong Province, the economic aggregates of Chao'an District increased. Among them, tea area, production, output value, number of tea cooperatives, and enterprises in Chao'an District all increased, and the tourism income and number of tourists received increased yearly. However, compared to Raoping County, the growth in tourism income in Chao'an District was the most significant. This study also found that heritage recognition inhibited the growth of tea cooperatives in the Chao'an District. Further analysis shows that the recognition of China-NIAHS effectively promotes the resource exploitation of heritage tourism, enhances the brand advantage of Phoenix Oolong tea, facilitates the development of the tourism and tea industries in Chao'an District, and integrates tea tourism in the heritage site, thus promoting the site's economic growth. At the same time, these economic achievements were also made possible by sound policy support. Therefore, the governments of heritage areas should attach importance to the role of agricultural heritage in regional development and give full play to the economic driving role of AHS. In conclusion, this study enriches relevant studies on AHS to a certain extent and provides empirical research ideas for the economic growth analysis of AHS as well as effective paths for its economic development.

To realize rural revitalization, this article analyzes the trends of China’s agricultural product demand, agricultural industrial structure, and agricultural labor demand in the next 30 years, and proposes that China should insist on the development of modern smart ecological agriculture in the future. To ensure national food security and achieve sustainable development of a high-efficiency, green, and high-value agriculture, China should promote agricultural efficiency improvement, system optimization, and efficient recycling of resources. It is necessary to reconstruct four systems: innovative agricultural science and technology, modern agricultural management, socialized agricultural service, and new-era agricultural personnel systems. Biological, equipment, ecological, and information technologies should be innovated to improve the agriculture sector. Furthermore, five major projects are recommended including pilot demonstration project for modern smart ecological agriculture, modern production and living waste treatment project, high-quality development monitoring and evaluation project for the whole agricultural industry chain, planting and breeding combined project led by breeding enterprises, and agricultural and rural personnel cultivation project.

Agricultural heritage systems are receiving increasing attention due to their multifunctional role, their capability to provide ecosystem services, and for representing sustainable development models for rural areas. At the international level, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations launched in 2002 the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) Program to identify and safeguard traditional agro-silvo-pastoral systems that are the result of the adaptation of rural communities to the surrounding environments. Following this approach, similar national programs have been developed, among which the Italian National Register of Historical Rural Landscapes and the China Nationally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (China-NIAHS) initiative stand out. This research compares the China-NIAHS initiative and the Italian Register of Historical Rural Landscapes, highlighting similarities and differences and identifying strengths and weaknesses, to contribute to the development of proper tools for the conservation and valorization of agricultural heritage systems. Both initiatives were established in 2012 and share similar aims and inscription criteria, including historical and current significance, knowledge system and social structure, economic and productive framework, and causes of vulnerability. The main differences are related to the delimitation of the boundaries of the proposed sites and to the inscription process; in addition, while for the Italian National Register spatial analyses of land-use changes and landscape structure are mandatory according to a precise methodology, for the China-NIAHS no specific landscape analyses are required. The main critical issues are the lack of public participation and the lack of a monitoring plan after the inscription. The absence of monitoring is also the main vulnerability of the FAO GIAHS Programme. This research can offer important information for different stakeholders at the international, national, and local levels dealing with agricultural heritage conservation and valorization. In particular, it highlights the need of developing a multidisciplinary monitoring system with a standard methodology based on different indicators that can contribute to maximizing the impact of these initiatives. This research also provides useful information for the countries that are interested in developing a national initiative for agricultural heritage systems' identification and valorization/conservation or for countries that intend to improve their national programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global greening and its relationship with climate change remain the hot topics in recent years, and are of critical importance for understanding the interactions between the terrestrial ecosystem carbon cycle and the climate system. China, especially north China, has contributed a lot to global greening during the past few decades. As a water-limited ecosystem, human activities, not precipitation amount, were thought as the main contributor to the greening of north China. Considering the importance of precipitation event characteristics (PEC) in the altered precipitation regimes, we integrated long-term normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and meteorological datasets to reveal the role of precipitation regimes, especially PECs, on vegetation growth across temperate grasslands in north China. Accompanied with a significantly decreased growing season precipitation (GSP), NDVI increased significantly in the largest area of the temperate grasslands during 1982–2015, i.e., greening. We found that 28.44% of the area was explained by PECs, including more heavy or extreme precipitation events, alleviated extreme drought, and fewer light events, while only 0.92% of the area was associated with GSP. NDVI did not always increase over the 30 years and there was a decrease during 1996–2005. Taking afforestation projects in desertified lands into account, we found that precipitation, mainly PECs, explained more the increase and decline of NDVI during 1982–1995 and 1996–2005, respectively, while an equivalent explanatory power of precipitation and afforestation projects to the increase in NDVI after 2005. Our study indicates a possible higher productivity under future precipitation regime scenario (e.g., fewer but larger precipitation events) or intensive afforestation activity, implying more carbon sequestration or livestock production of temperate steppe in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The protection and management of important agricultural heritage systems (IAHS) are essential to the sustainable economic and social development of heritage sites. Using the time-varying difference-in-differences (DID) model, this paper analyzes the influence of the identification of IAHS on economic growth and compares the difference between Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) and China's Nationally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (China-NIAHS). The results show that the identification of IAHS can significantly promote the economic growth of heritage sites, and the identification of GIAHS has a stronger role. Heterogeneity analysis shows that the economic driving effect of IAHS identification on heritage sites is affected by geographical location and poverty. The economic driving effect is stronger in Western China and in relatively poor areas. In addition, the influencing mechanism of regional economic growth after IAHS identification is discussed. The results show that IAHS identification can promote the development of the grain processing industry and the improvement of infrastructure construction, so as to increase the added value of secondary industries at heritage sites. Moreover, the level of heritage recognition leads to different policy tendencies. Among these, GIAHS identification significantly promotes investment growth, while China-NIAHS identification significantly promotes the population agglomeration of heritage sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Guangdong Chaoan Fenghuangdancong Tea (GCFT) Cultural System is the second batch of China's Nationally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (China-NIAHS), identified by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs in 2014 as having rich biodiversity, valuable knowledge of indigenous technology, and unique ecological and cultural landscape. Under the dual background of rapid urbanization and agricultural industry structure transformation, China-NIAHS-GCFT is facing the reality of structural changes in land use/cover and landscape patterns. Therefore, it is important to systematically portray land use/land cover (LULC) changes in China-NIAHS-GCFT sites and clarify the spatial pattern differences due to the impact of China-NIAHS-GCFT recognition on tea garden areas and the tea industry. This study was conducted in Chaozhou City, Guangdong Province, where GCFT is located, to compare and analyze the LULC characteristics of the core area of the heritage site (Chaoan, Chaozhou) and the control area (Raoping, Chaozhou) before and after recognition. We assessed the spatial variation in tea garden area and the intrinsic driving mechanisms of the change by integrating social factors, such as China-NIAHS-GCFT recognition, and natural factors, such as elevation, precipitation, and temperature. The results show that: (1) Around 2010, the change in LULC of the core and control areas progressed from slight changes to dramatic changes, mainly shifting from natural to anthropogenic landscapes. The decrease in the cropland and grassland and the increase in built-up land in the core area were obviously larger than those in the control area. (2) Before and after GCFT was recognized as China-NIAHS in 2014, the changing pattern of tea garden shifts from "basically stable and small growth" to a trend of "substantial expansion". Specifically, the recognition brought about tea garden area expansion and tea industry development in the core area, especially Fenghuang. Meanwhile, a radiating effect extends to the control area, especially the townships adjacent to Fenghuang. (3) Similar natural climatic conditions of temperature and precipitation in the two regions provide a basic growing environment for tea trees; however, elevation was the key natural resource condition affecting the distribution of tea gardens. The elevation conditions of the core area are more suitable for growth of tea trees compared to the control area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Management evaluation is increasingly required for national parks worldwide as it is an essential mechanism for improving management levels and achieving management objectives. The management capacity evaluation (MCE), an integral component of management evaluation, emphasizes the suitability of management measures. It helps identify the deficiencies in existing management measures and form feedback to improve them, thus increasing the overall management level of national parks. However, the existing MCE methods from international programs suffer from limited adaptability and are difficult to promote in other countries. In this research, we apply the best practice-based (BPB) method to the Three-River-Sources National Park (TNP), the first national park in China, to reveal the changes in its management capacity during the pilot period. The BPB method is new compared with other MCE methods, but is more adaptable to the current situation of China's national parks. Results show that TNP's comprehensive management capacity and the five aspects of management capacities improved effectively, which means the management measures adopted during the pilot phase were generally appropriate and practicable. Some management capacities, such as management organization, legal system construction, management planning, and natural resources confirmation and registration performed well or improved significantly during the pilot period, providing beneficial lessons for other national parks in China. Some management capacities, such as the ecological compensation scheme, monitoring and early warning system, and management team, are still deficient and should be prioritized for future improvement. The effectiveness and operability of the BPB method are validated in this research, as it provides a rapid and accurate diagnosis of TNP's management capacities and useful feedback for improving them. We submit that the BPB method not only contributes to the theoretical improvement of MCE methods, but also shows wider adaptability to different protected area types and countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although numerous studies have explored the role of government, conservation managers and local residents in the governance of protected areas, little attention has been paid to the role of tourists. Based on a field survey and a network-based content analysis of tourists' perceptions and expectations of Wuyishan National Park, this research sought to promote the governance of national parks by strengthening the tourists' influence. The results showed that: (1) tourists had a changing, but still narrow understanding of the national park's functions, (2) tourists' expectations of tourism and recreational functions are growing more diversified, and (3) lack of information restrained them from making an effective contribution to conservation. The results suggest that tourists can be effective in conservation governance with the aid of better publicity and closer interactions with other stakeholders. This study has theoretical and managerial implications for understanding the role of tourists in the governance of national parks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to protect traditional agricultural systems of global importance, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) launched an initiative for the conservation of Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) in 2002. After nearly two decades of development, the number of GIAHS has increased from the initial 5 in 2005 to the current 65 in 22 countries around the world. Despite the remarkable increase in the number of GIAHS, many countries are now facing the difficult task of dynamic conservation and adaptive management of GIAHS. As an important element of heritage management, monitoring plays an important role in improving the level of heritage management. Scientific and effective monitoring can not only achieve the conservation of the heritage itself and the maintenance of its value, but also the sustainable development of the heritage site. However, FAO did not put forward mandatory requirements for GIAHS monitoring, nor did it issue any guiding document on GIAHS monitoring, but left it to various countries to explore their own GIAHS monitoring. In this context, the paper systematically sorts out the theoretical research and practical exploration of GIAHS monitoring conducted by different countries and research institutions, comparing and analyzing the differences between the theoretical design of monitoring GIAHS themselves and that of GIAHS action plan monitoring, as well as the differences in practical exploration of GIAHS monitoring among China, South Korea, Japan and Portugal. This paper argues that countries and research institutions face common problems in the research and application of GIAHS monitoring, which are: (1) low enthusiasm of heritage sites about participation; (2) lack of legal and financial support; and (3) lack of technical support and guidance. To further promote GIAHS monitoring globally and better promote dynamic conservation and adaptive management of GIAHS, this paper proposes that FAO should cooperate with various countries to establish a unified, scientific and efficient GIAHS monitoring system, including: (1) clarifying monitoring requirements and formulating monitoring guidelines; (2) improving the management system and establishing incentive mechanisms; (3) promoting multi-stakeholder participation and strengthening technical training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, most rural areas in China have faced the prominent livelihood transformation of smallholder farmers. It may directly or indirectly affect the regional environment. Thus, this paper constructed a conceptual framework and chose the first Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) site in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau as the case for evaluating the impact of smallholder farmers' livelihood transformation on the agricultural system. From 2016 to 2019, the main direction of livelihood transformation of smallholder farmers in the case area is the non-agricultural livelihood transformation. And the average proportion of agricultural income in households has continued to decline. With the non-agricultural livelihood transformation, smallholder farmers' land use and energy use behaviour has changed. As a result, the elements in farmland and the relationship between farmland, woodland, and grassland have shown weakening trends in the structure of the case agricultural system. In addition, the ecological and sociocultural functions of the case agricultural system have declined. Still, the productive function has remained almost at a stable level and has even increased slightly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors discuss China's integrated farming system and its attempt to establish efficient and sustainable agroecosystems.

The effects of straw alone or combined with industrial and agricultural wastes as fertilizers on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are still poorly known in cropland areas. Here, we studied the effects of 3.5 Mg ha−1 straw and 3.5 Mg ha−1 straw combined with 8 Mg ha−1 of diverse wastes on GHG emission in a subtropical Jasminum sambac plantation in southeastern China. There were five treatments in a completely randomized block design: control, straw only, straw + biochar, straw + steel slag, and straw + gypsum slag. Emissions of carbon dioxide were generally higher in the treatments with waste than in the control or straw-only treatments, whereas the contrary pattern was observed in CH4 and N2O emission rates. Moreover, the total global warming potentials (GWPs) were no significantly higher in most of the amended treatments as compared to the control and straw-only treatments. In relation to the treatment with only straw, GWPs were 9.4% lower when steel slag was used. This finding could be a consequence of Fe amount added by steel slag, which would limit and inhibit the emissions of GHGs and their transport from soil to atmosphere. Our results showed that the application of slags did not increase the emission of GHGs and that the combination of straw with steel slag or biochar could be more effective than straw alone for controlling GHGs emission and improve soil C and nutrient provision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tourism can be an important strategy for conserving traditional agricultural systems and potentially enhancing livelihoods of hosting communities. The intricate and complex relations between agricultural heritage conservation, tourism and community livelihoods are examined at a GIAHS site in China. Through multi-stakeholder interviews, the study illustrates that the increased government support and public awareness after GIAHS designation do not ease the struggle between conservation and development at Guanhou Village. Particularly in the context of fast urbanization, multi-layer integration of tourism and the agricultural heritage system should be sought to sustain traditional agriculture and enhance community livelihoods. Practical implications are then discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Zhagana Agriculture-Forest-Animal Husbandry Composite System (ZCS) is the first Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems site in the Tibetan Plateau. Similar to many traditional agricultural regions, with the development of tourism and leisure agriculture, the peasant households in ZCS have gradually changed their livelihood strategies and livelihood activities in the past 10 years, resulting in the disappearance of some traditional farming methods and agricultural landscapes with a long history. By taking livelihood assets as the entry point and livelihood strategies as the core, this paper analyzed the basic situation of households' livelihood and the transition mechanism of different livelihood strategies in order to offer suggestions for the dynamic conservation and sustainable development of Agricultural Heritage Systems (AHS). (1) The livelihood strategies of peasant households in ZCS can be divided into two major categories: specialized strategies and diversified strategies. (2) According to the empirical calculation of the livelihood asset accounting framework of AHS, the average livelihood asset value of peasant households in ZCS is 2.040, showing that the situation of peasant households' livelihood is inadequate. (3) The transition of peasant households' livelihood strategies from traditional strategy to specialized or diversified livelihood strategies is mainly influenced by natural assets, human assets, cultural assets, social assets and informational assets. In order to meet the growing material and spiritual needs of peasant households and achieve the sustainable development of ZCS simultaneously, it is suggested that the agriculture-forestry-animal husbandry-tourism composite strategies shall be taken as the development direction of peasant households' livelihood strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cooperation for eco-environmental conservation (CEC) as a common countermeasure to eco-environmental problems has been practiced widely in China. However, it has not gotten in-depth study due to lack of the theorization. Therefore, in this paper, we aim to provide a CEC theoretical framework from a new perspective. Using literature analysis method, we classified CEC practices into seven categories according to the cooperation means and drew the progress of CEC practices in China. Then, based on the analyses on the common characteristics and deficiencies of current CEC cases, we proposed the CEC definition and established a CEC framework responding to eco-environmental problems. The framework consists of components of CEC, theoretical bases, construction of CEC mechanism, and supervision and assessment. Of which, the CEC component part depicts the CEC structure. The theoretical bases part points out which theories can be used for CEC. The constructing procedure of CEC mechanism part presents how to set up a complete CEC cases. The supervision and management part demonstrates how to build a justice and effective safeguard mechanism. Eventually, we conclude that the CEC theoretical framework can provide guidance for people when taking a CEC practice, but if becoming a mature theory, it needs to rest on lots of empirical studies and studies of more theoretical methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The designation, conservation and tourism development of agricultural heritage systems, which are embedded with intricate human–nature relations, could significantly influence community livelihoods. Therefore, a livelihood approach is critical for agricultural heritage conservation and the sustainability of the hosting community. Taking Guanhou Village, Xuanhua Grape Garden Urban Agricultural Heritage Site as an example, this study examines impacts of heritage conservation and tourism on the community livelihood system and its implications for community livelihood sustainability. A sustainable livelihood framework is adopted to guide the analysis. Face-to-face in-depth interviews were conducted with management officials, village leaders and village residents. The research identified the importance of Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) designation on raising government support and public awareness on conservation. Tourism emerges as an alternative livelihood to some residents which exerts positive economic influence. However, tourism participation is currently at a low level which restricted the distribution of benefits. The sustainability of local rural livelihood is at risk due to the rapid urbanization, the decline of human resources and the insufficient integration of traditional agriculture with tourism. Practical implications were discussed to enhance local participation and tourism contribution to GIAHS conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2002, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization initiated the Globally Important Agriculture Heritage Systems conservation program. Agricultural organic certification, based on traditional environmentally friendly technology, increases farmer income and encourages traditional agricultural heritage. However, during the organic conversion period, farmer income cannot be guaranteed; this period is also a bottleneck for heritage conservation via organic certification. Based on experiences at the Honghe Hani rice terrace system in Yunnan, China, we calculated and compared inputs and outputs of traditional and modern systems during organic conversion and developed a calculation method for determining opportunity costs of agricultural production. We found that the stability of farmer income during conversion can be guaranteed by setting the protective purchasing price at 6.93 CNY/kg, thereby achieving the goal of dynamic conservation of agricultural heritage systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ecological footprint (EF) is an accepted worldwide method for the evaluation of environmental sustainability. However, its utility is limited by the existence of a series of shortcomings in the methodology such as the only-partial inclusion of human generated wastes. To improve the ability of the footprint method to evaluate environmental sustainability, a new footprint-based indicator – the ‘Waste Absorption Footprint’ (WAF) – has been proposed. The purpose of this paper is to test this methodological approach by evaluating the sustainability of the water environment in the Taihu Lake Basin, in densely populated eastern China. Applying the WAF method indicates that anthropogenic discharges of wastes have imposed an absorption pressure on the local water system such that the local water environment is increasingly unsustainable . Furthermore, nitrogen and phosphorus are identified as more critical wastes than organic substances, while domestic discharges are shown to be more important sources compared with those from industry and agriculture, which therefore should be the focus of environmental management and pollution control initiatives. It is demonstrated that the WAF method can provide a wealth of information that can be used for reference by local water environmental management authorities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: For a better understanding of human demand on the biosphere's capacity to assimilate wastes, this paper introduces a new footprint-based indicator, which is named the ‘Waste Absorption Footprint’ (WAF). The proposal of the WAF is inspired by the idea of building footprints on nature's multiple ecological functions. Within this framework, the WAF is built upon the waste absorptive capacity of the land and water area. This methodological approach is not confined to a particular waste product, but is able to include a variety of wastes generated by human activities. With this method anthropogenic emissions of wastes are translated into absorptive land and water areas. The results can be expressed in units of average hectares by scaling different land-use types in proportion to their relative absorptive capacity. The utility of the ecological footprint in sustainability evaluation can be greatly strengthened by combining the WAF to fully capture environmental effects induced by anthropogenic emissions of wastes. This paper also discusses the relationships of the WAF with other footprints and is intended to inform future debate on footprint accounting. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The ecological value encapsulated in the term "spiritual ecology" is drawing more and more attention from ethnology, folklore, ecology, and other related disciplines. The custom of respecting and pacifying forest spirits has distinct regional and ethnic characteristics, and many scholars have discovered samples from different studies around the world. Qingyuan County, located in the mountainous region of southwest Zhejiang, is a very typical case of the practice of respecting and pacifying forest spirits. The mushroom-cultivation technology invented by the chthonic people there more than 900 years ago made this the global birthplace of artificial mushroom cultivation. The Qingyuan Forest–Mushroom Co-cultivation System (QFMCS) has been listed as an important agricultural heritage system by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China, Beijing, China and a candidate project by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome, Italy for Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS). Additionally, the QFMCS is currently an important part of the Baishanzu National Park under construction. The authors made an in-depth field study in the mountainous areas of Qingyuan and used theoretical methods of ecology, anthropology, and folklore to reveal the function spiritual ecology plays in ecological conservation, forest protection, identity, and the maintenance of community interests. In the "traditional-modern" transformation of Qingyuan County, the practice of respecting and pacifying the Spirits is still being propagated, resulting in expansion and social cohesion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study seeks to isolate a select group of landscape metrics particularly well-suited for describing the Hani Terrace in southwest of China. We examined the response of 47 landscape metrics to a large range of imagery grain sizes. Based on a correlation analysis, the original 47 metrics were placed into 21 groups such that all metrics within a group were strongly correlated with each other with a value of more than 0.9, and were represented by a single descriptor. Using these cross-sectional metrics in the context of principal components analysis, we found that five factors explained almost 93% of the total variation in the landscape pattern. The highest loadings for these five factors were the Splitting index (SPLIT), Patch area distribution (AREA_CV), Shannon's diversity index (SHDI), Euclidean nearest neighbor distance distribution (ENN_AM), and Total core area (TCA), respectively. Considering the real landscape, we added the Patch fractal dimension distribution (FRAC_MN) as the sixth landscape pattern metric. As the scale effect of landscape pattern metrics we design to investigate how a suite of commonly use landscape metrics respond to changing grain size. Based on the anlasis, we determined that the best domain of scale to characterise the Hani Terrace pattern metrics is between 40m and 45m. Through the fractal method, we found that the characteristic scale of the Hani Terrace is the same as the scale domain of metrics, among the 40m and 45m. We suggest that the majority of the patterns in the Hani Terrace landscapes, indeed for all those in southwest China,can be described effectively with these six metrics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Population growth, loss of biodiversity, and climate change necessitate a new vision for the future of both agriculture and biodiversity. In order to safeguard and support the world's agricultural heritage systems, in 2002 the FAO started an initiative for the conservation and adaptive management called Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS). Tourism is suggested as part of the future as it is considered to be an alternative income source that will not only promote local economic development, but also provide the opportunity for tourists to learn about agriculture and ecology. However, inappropriate tourism in GIAHS sites will bring impacts on local culture and living styles, which not only threatens tourism's sustainable development, but also has the potential to damage these unique agricultural systems. This paper proposes that agriculture-based tourism is suitable for GIAHS and that Multi-functionality of Agriculture (MFA) can be the link between agriculture and tourism. This study constructs the framework for tourism development in GIAHS through MFA and applies it to the four GIAHS sites in China. Referring to the quantitative assessment for MFA and a qualitative analysis of the relationship between agriculture and tourism, we can give advice on agricultural tourism development in GIAHS sites. This framework also offers a universal methodology that allows stakeholders to communicate about the multiple functions of GIAHS across scales [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) initiative was launched by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations in 2002 with the aim of establishing the basis for the global recognition, dynamic conservation and adaptive management of outstanding traditional agricultural systems and their associated landscapes, biodiversity, knowledge systems and cultures. There is anecdotal evidence that designated GIAHS are economically better than non-GIAHS sites. However, there have not been done an economic analysis to prove this. Nor are any sophisticated economic performance criteria for GIAHS in place for a continuously monitoring of the functioning. Therefore, the main objective of this study is to conduct an economic valuation for a GIAHS system versus a similar non designated GIAHS system. For this, a Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA) is chosen. The major constraint is the data availability. Therefore, a framework for economic analysis shall be developed with the intention to provide directions, assumptions, and data requirement to carry out an economic analysis and so give guidance on future inclusion of economic valuations of GIAHS. Theconceptual framework for economic assessment will use the Rice-Fish pilot site in China as a case study. The example calculations on the rice-fish co-culture (RFC) have to be taken cautiously due to data availability on different activities (tourism, marketed products on local and international markets) as well as comparison to similar systems [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In rural life, everything is connected to everything else. Seen as a complex adaptive system, the "rural" in most regions of the world has evolved over many centuries and is well known to have endured invasive predations and conflicts and to have adapted to changing conditions, both physical and human, many times. Such changes are recorded in the culture and in the landscapes which have continuously evolved and which characterize rural places today. These features of contemporary rural life-economy, culture and landscape-are the key elements of rural systems. Interestingly, they have also become the elements that attract tourists to rural areas. This theoretical paper, starts from the position that the rural world as a whole is complex and that systems adjust in the face of uncertainty, and a type of dynamism that is generated externally in the form of shocks and stresses. Complex Adaptive Systems theory provides an excellent opportunity to examine living systems such as Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) in China that can provide new perspectives on resilience and self-organizing capabilities of the system. The paper suggests that adopting such approaches in contemporary research will produce new insights of whole systems and stem the tide of mainstream scientific research that reduces systems to their component parts and studies them with micro-techniques, while mostly failing to reintegrate the component parts back into the system as a whole. By reviewing this approach in relation to GIAHS and by introducing tourism into the rural village system, as a perturbation, we can create new ways to understand the effects of rural development interventions in ancient landscapes such as those which cover many parts of rural China today [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the mean annual soil temperature collected with the Pallmann method and data on evaporation, precipitation, and the perennial plant species in 75 monitoring sites in the Mojave Desert from 1982 to 2000, we investigated the interrelationships of soil temperature and aridity on the distribution of several dominant desert scrubs in the Mojave Desert. It showed that the creosote bush-white bursage communities populated in the areas with lower elevation (<1,200 m) and higher soil temperature (>20°C). The sagebrush communities were found in wetter areas with higher elevation (>1,500 m) and lower soil temperature (<18°C). The blackbrush communities occupied areas between the creosote bush-white bursage communities and sagebrush communities. The distribution of yucca species is similarly affected by the soil temperature and aridity. Climate change is expected to significantly alter the distribution patterns of vegetation in Mojave Desert. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article discusses the highlights of the first International Terraced Landscape Conference held in Yunnan Province in south-west China from November 11-15, 2010. Organized by the Yunnan Hani Terrace Institute and sponsored by the World Heritage Center of UNESCO and the Honghe government, the event discussed issues about terraced landscapes, particularly the Hani Rice Terraces.