Abstract
As environment-friendly recreational facilities, greenways can bring ecological, social, and economic benefits to the residents of agricultural heritage sites (AHS). Zengcheng District of Guangzhou City first implemented the recreational greenway in China in 2008. Liantang Village is the tourist center of the Liantang Spring segment of Zeng River Greenway system. This village has always been an important planting region of black olive and lychee from ancient times, with more than 1800 large old trees until today. Taking Liantang as a case, participant observations, in-depth interviews, and questionnaires (n = 140) are performed to collect relevant data. This study explores the economic and sociocultural influences of greenway implementation on AHS. Findings reveal that greenway tourism and agricultural heritage conservation form a mutually beneficial relationship. The greenway implementation successfully prompts the emergence and rapid development of tourism which significantly improves the economy of the heritage area and effectively increases the income of the villagers in AHS. The sources of their income mainly include agritainment businesses, agricultural product sales, tourist-related business wages, land leases, and house rentals. Most villagers greatly improve their quality of life because of the continuous infrastructure improvements. However, the daily lives and production orders of villagers are disturbed to some extent. The villagers have a highly sober cognition of the value of old trees, and their protection consciousness is enhanced. The difference in the source of economic income affects the judgment of the villagers, and three groups of villagers exhibit some cognitive differences with the influence of tourism. Results indicate that multi-dimensional values of agricultural heritage can be achieved, and a mutually beneficial relationship will then be formed between tourism and agricultural heritage conservation as soon as the correct eco-tourism is developed in AHS.
Highlights
Greenways are linear open spaces along natural or artificial corridors, such as riverfronts, streams, ridgelines, abandoned railroad right-of-ways, canals, or scenic roads [1]
This study presents a successful example of the dynamic conservation of agricultural heritage in agricultural heritage sites (AHS), and reveals that the multi-dimensional values of agricultural heritage can be achieved, and a mutually beneficial relationship will be formed between the tourism and agricultural heritage conservation as soon as the correct eco-tourism is developed
The concept of “dynamic conservation” is rooted in the idea that opportunities for agricultural heritage conservation are mostly found in the daily lives of rural populations, responding to their needs and expectations [17]
Summary
Greenways are linear open spaces along natural or artificial corridors, such as riverfronts, streams, ridgelines, abandoned railroad right-of-ways, canals, or scenic roads [1]. Recreational greenways that originated in the USA have rapidly become an international movement since the mid-1990s. The first scholar who systematically expounded on the concept of greenway is Charles Little, a famous American environmental writer. According to Little, a greenway is a natural, protected linear corridor that improves environmental quality and provides outdoor recreation [3]. The implementation of the modern greenway increasingly attached importance to matching leisure functions. Kongjian Yu, a famous landscape architect, summarized the evolution of greenway planning and implementation in China. Zengcheng District of Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province, initially planned and implemented large scale recreational greenways in 2008.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
