Thumbnail Image

A methodology to assess the sustainability and resiliency of GIAHS sites: an example of its application in the rice-fish culture (RFC) systems in Longxian village, Qingtian County, Zhejiang Province, China

Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS)

Year of publication 2015

Pages 9 p..

Author Altieri, M.

Publisher FAO ;

Product type Project

Edition 1

Synopsis (short abstract) The GIAHS Initiative uses the sustainable livelihoods framework (SLA) as an approach to understanding factors (shocks, trends, etc) affecting people’s livelihoods (expressed as five types of capital) and the way these factors are linked to each other. Within the SLA framework, resources available to a specific community can be divided into five different capital assets (Figure 1). Based on these assets, a list can be drawn up of what assets are available in the community. Economic, environmental , social and institutional forces as well as human behavior influence land-use decisions by local people and depending on the strength of the capitals, communities respond to internal and external forces that influence the positive or negative tendencies of any of the five capital assets. This in turns determines the outcomes (levels of income, health, nutrition, food security, sustainable resource use, etc) of the livelihood strategy adopted by the community.

Language English

Also available in:
No results found.

Related items

Showing items related by metadata.

  • Thumbnail Image
    Project
    The GIAHS – Rice Culture System Wannian County in Jiangxi Province, P. R. China. Format for Proposal of Candidate Systems for the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) Programme
    Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS)
    2016
    Also available in:
    No results found.
    Wannian traditional rice is a remarkable old and prototype variety, firstly grown in Heqiao village during the North and South Dynasty (420 AD - 589 AD). Formerly, it is called “Wuyuanzao” and commonly known as “Manggu”. It is a location-specific variety to Heqiao village, and cannot be grown in other areas; It was tested and verified that it can be only grown under the water, soil combination and climate condition in Heqiao village. The traditional rice needs the perennial cold spring water for irrigation, and surrounding forests play a crucial role in soil and water conservation. The surrounding forests and paddy fields are part of the same biodiversity-rich agro-forestry system. The rice is resistant to insects and adapted to low soil fertility. Hence farmers do not need to use chemical fertilizers and pesticides, resulting in a sustainable planting environment and contributing to the biodiversity conservation. Ingenious Wannian people have also documented their experiences in culti vating traditional rice and rice culture since time immemorial. The rice culture is closely related to their daily life, expressed in their customs, food, language, and form an important part of their cultural diversity.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Project
    Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) Proposal: Rice Terraces Systems in Subtropical China
    Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS)
    2016
    Also available in:
    No results found.
    China has a very long history of construcing terraces that are famous for a wide scope of distribution and a large number of amount. China is a mountainous country where the area of mountains account for about two-thirds of the total area of the territory. Therefore, to make a living, ancient people who lived in the mountainous area created the pattern of terraced fields according to local conditions. For hundreds of years, the terraces built along the mountains have not only improved the local farming conditions but also increased the output of grains. Morever, they are beneficial to the ecology of the mountainous area and have made great contributions to the sustainable development of agriculture in China.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Project
    Cover pages for the GIAHS Proposal: Zhejiang Huzhou Mulberry-dyke & Fish-pond System
    Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS)
    2016
    Also available in:
    No results found.
Show more

Users also downloaded

Showing related downloaded files

No results found.