We are happy this month to share one of our recent case studies from University of the Philippines Open University, Los Baños and Ifugao State University in the Philippines. The case study is titled “Re(Connecting) with the Ifugao Rice Terraces as a socio-ecological production landscape through youth capacity building and exchange programs: A conservation and sustainable development approach”, and was also included as a chapter in the Satoyama Initiative Thematic Review vol. 5.

According to the case study, the Ifugao Rice Terraces (IRT) in the Philippines was inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 1995 by UNESCO, and in 2005, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations also designated it as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) site, the first in the Philippines. Despite these recognitions, the IRT faces various challenges such as under-management of biocultural diversity and socio-ecological systems, poor maintenance, abandonment of rice terraces, unregulated tourism activities, and out-migration of young Ifugaos. To address these challenges, rehabilitation efforts and initiatives have been initiated by various sectors to restore conditions in the IRT and aid in its conservation and sustainable development. This case study examines the youth capacity building and exchange program which intended to reconnect Ifugao youths and connect urban youths with the IRT as a SEPLS. Ifugao youths reported that they see the IRT only for its aesthetic and global designations value, while urban youths were able to connect to the knowledge and value systems of the Ifugao culture, through the exchange program, thus, enabling them to learn the values of Ifugao towards IRT and nature. It is recommended that the program be expanded to other youths in the IRT landscape and other SEPLs.

For the full case study, please see the IPSI website here.