Agricultural Heritage Sites Research Articles

Research on the Influence Mechanism of Tourists’ Pro-Environmental Behavior in Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Sites: A Case Study of the Anxi Tieguanyin Tea Culture System in China

The harmonious coexistence of humanity and nature stands as a paramount objective in the global endeavor towards ecological civilization. By vigorously promoting eco-friendly recreational activities within World Agricultural Heritage sites, we can evoke tourists’ emotional understanding and empathy towards environmental protection. This approach presents an optimal solution to the challenges faced in realizing the ecological value of these heritage sites, thereby fostering an even deeper harmony between people and nature. For this study, the Anxi Tie Guan Yin Tea Cultural System, a site of global agricultural heritage significance, was chosen as the case study. Employing structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis, a survey was administered to 452 local tourists for empirical testing. The research reveals several key findings: (1) Tourists’ environmental concern exerts a notably positive influence on their pro-environmental behaviors; (2) both nature empathy and ecological anxiety serve as mediators in the relationship between environmental concern and tourists’ pro-environmental behaviors; (3) furthermore, nature empathy and ecological anxiety exhibit a sequential, or chain, mediation effect between environmental concern and pro-environmental behaviors; and (4) lastly, the impact of nature empathy and ecological anxiety on tourists’ pro-environmental behaviors differs according to gender. Consequently, managers of agricultural heritage sites should aim to evoke tourists’ sense of nature empathy while appropriately stimulating their ecological anxiety, thereby providing guidance for ensuring a harmonious blend of human activities and the ecological environment and ultimately fostering the sustainable development of World Agricultural Heritage sites.

From the perspective of world heritage, the strategy and sustainable development of the mushroom co-cultivation system in Qingyuanlin (Zhejiang)

The Qingyuan Forest-Mushroom Co-culture System in Zhejiang Province, China, located in Qingyuan County, Lishui City, was recognized as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS) in 2022. In this study, the author compares the selection criteria and characteristics of the “Zhejiang Qingyuan Forest-Mushroom Co-cultivation System” with those of other World Agricultural Heritage sites. Through an in-depth analysis of the uniqueness of the “Zhejiang Qingyuan Forest-Mushroom Co-cultivation System” and its ecological, economic, and cultural values, the author aims to reveal its advantages in the World Heritage List and explore reasonable ways for its sustainable development.

The Construction and Application of a Model for Evaluating Tourism Climate Suitability in Terraced Agricultural Cultural Heritage Sites: A Case Study of Longji Terraced Fields in China

As one of the globally significant agricultural cultural heritages, Longji Terraced Fields in Longsheng, Guangxi, China, attract numerous tourists. This study aims to describe the weather phenomena and climate change characteristics of Longji Terraced Fields in recent years to reveal their impact on the tourism economy. Utilizing meteorological station data and considering the actual situation in Longsheng, Guilin, the existing models for evaluating tourism climate comfort are improved. The tourism climate comfort of Longji Terraced Fields from 2002 to 2022 is discussed. The results show that the improved model can better reflect the local situation. The results show that the current Holiday Climate Index and Modified Climate Index for Tourism are not suitable for evaluating the Longji Terraces. Adjustments were made to these indices to account for the high annual precipitation and relative humidity of Longsheng. Combining extensive questionnaire surveys, it was found that the improved evaluation model better reflects tourists’ perceptions of climate comfort. Analysis indicates that when the modified model value is above 70, tourist satisfaction exceeds 80%. The most comfortable tourism periods for the Longji Terraces are August, September, and October, while the least comfortable periods are January, February, and March. This study helps to understand the seasonal variations in tourism climate comfort at Longji Terraced Fields and provides a scientific basis for local tourism industry responses to climate change, thereby increasing tourism revenue.

Classification and Value Evaluation of Ecotourism Resources in Agricultural and Cultural Heritage Sites Based on Clustering Algorithm--Taking Hani Terraces Globally Important Agricultural and Cultural Heritage Site as an Example

Abstract Taking the Hani Terraces as an example, this study explores the classification and value evaluation of ecotourism resources in agricultural and cultural heritage sites, applying clustering algorithms with the aim of revealing their ecological, economic and social values and promoting the sustainable development of heritage sites. The study establishes an evaluation system including economic benefits, sightseeing resources, agricultural resources and ecological resources, and applies the gray system theory and cluster analysis method. Through the expert scoring of 27 evaluation indicators, combined with the gray clustering algorithm, the ecotourism resources of Hani Terraces were classified and valued. The results show that the vast majority of indicators (15/27) are rated as excellent, 11 indicators are good, and only 1 indicator is medium. In addition, the research on 80 households showed that the villagers’ perceived index of heritage protection averaged 4.44, the perceived index of ecological problems averaged 3.22, and the perceived index of tourism development averaged 3.84. In summary, the ecotourism resources of Hani Terraces have significant value and the local residents have a positive attitude towards their protection and development.

The interplay of tourism economy and food security in dessert-prone agricultural heritage sites

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to examine how the tourism economy affects local food availability, access, utilization and stability in dessert-prone agricultural heritage sites. Specifically, the study aims to explore the relationship between the tourism industry and local agricultural practices and how this connection influences food security in the Siwa Oasis, located in the Western Desert of Egypt.Design/methodology/approachThe study employs a qualitative exploratory research design using in-depth interviews and focus groups to investigate the impact of the tourism economy on food security and identify potential benefits and limitations for food security in the region.FindingsThe research reveals that the tourism economy in Siwa Oasis has only a marginal contribution to food security. The study highlights a lack of a strong connection between the tourism industry and local agricultural practices within the heritage site. As a result, the potential benefits and synergies that could be achieved between tourism and agriculture have not been fully realized, leading to a limited impact on food stability.Research limitations/implicationsThis study primarily relies on qualitative data from Siwa Oasis, Egypt, which may limit the generalizability of findings beyond this specific context. Additionally, while the study provides valuable insights into the complex relationship between tourism and food security, it does not quantitatively measure the magnitude of tourism's impact. Future research could incorporate quantitative methods for a more comprehensive understanding of this relationship in diverse desert-prone regions. Finally, the study highlights the need for more integrated approaches to enhance food security through tourism, but the specific strategies and policy recommendations require further investigation and adaptation to local contexts.Practical implicationsThis study underscores the need for tourism development strategies that prioritize food security in desert-prone areas like Siwa Oasis. Policymakers and stakeholders should promote sustainable tourism practices that enhance local agriculture, create diversified income sources and foster equitable benefits for communities. Moreover, recognizing the seasonal nature of tourism, interventions to address food shortages during off-peak periods are crucial. Efforts should also focus on skill development and gender-inclusive opportunities within the tourism sector to ensure broader community participation. Additionally, collaborations between tourism and agriculture should be encouraged to optimize food availability and stability while preserving cultural food traditions.Originality/valueThis study adds original insights by examining the specific impact of the tourism economy on food security in dessert-prone agricultural heritage sites. The study's originality lies in its exploration of the untapped potential for synergy between the tourism and agricultural sectors and the implications for local food security. This research contributes to understanding how tourism can improve food security in specific contexts and provides valuable insights into sustainable development in heritage sites.

Sustainable farming genes: spatial distribution and influencing factors of Chinese Agricultural Heritage Sites (CAHSs)

Agricultural heritage is a fundamental aspect of cultural heritage, as it is of significant cultural, economic, and biological value. The objective of this study is to reveal the spatial distribution and change of the Chinese Agricultural Heritage Site (CAHS) by means of spatial analysis. The results show that: (1) The distribution of 532 CAHSs (7 types) is patchy, and the horticulture system is gaining the quantitative advantage (55.26%), (2) The distribution of CAHSs shows the spatial aggregation of “dense in the east and sparse in the west.” The areas of Beijing, Shandong, Zhejiang, and their surroundings form the densest belt region of the heritages, and 44.17% of the CAHSs are distributed in this belt, (3) Single factor analysis shows that culture, population, soil, and elevation are the most critical driving forces that influence the distribution (all explanatory power > 0.20). Two factors interaction analysis confirms that the distribution is influenced by the enhancement of both natural and human factors. Of these, a high explanatory power (>0.70) is related to the matching between culture factors, population factors, and geographic factors (i.e., elevation, soil, and river). This study has the potential to provide scientific evidence for CAHS assessment, protection, and sustainable development.

Value realization paths of ecological products through tourism in agricultural heritage sites from the perspective of farmers: An example of the Dancong tea culture system in Chaozhou City

Value realization paths of ecological products through tourism in agricultural heritage sites from the perspective of farmers: An example of the Dancong tea culture system in Chaozhou City

Influence of heritage tourism on the residents’ well-being in agricultural heritage sites: A case study of Hani Rice Terraces of Yunnan Province

Influence of heritage tourism on the residents’ well-being in agricultural heritage sites: A case study of Hani Rice Terraces of Yunnan Province

Study on the adaptability of traditional architecture in agricultural heritage sites after tourism intervention—a case study of Huzhou Digang Food Street in China

Traditional architecture in agricultural heritage sites (AHSs) embodies the livelihood of local communities and residents, which is an important part of the AHS. However, with the intervention of tourism, some of the traditional architecture in AHSs has gradually transformed into simple use for tourism, without reflecting the cultural connotations of agricultural heritage systems, as well as the farming wisdom of the AHS. This paper takes Digang Food Street in Huzhou, China as an example, which is in the core protection area of the Huzhou mulberry-dyke and fish-pond system, combining comparative analysis and geographical system analysis to explore the adaptive transformation in decoration, structure, spatial layout and functional form of buildings after the development of the tourism industry. The dynamic relationship among traditional architecture, sustainable development of tourism and conservation of agriculture heritage is also analysed, expecting to provide some experience and reference for the conservation of other AHSs.

Characteristics of urban agricultural heritage sites: Policies and management methods for their conservation in China, Germany, and Italy

This study aims to emphasise the significance and urgency of preserving urban agricultural heritage (UAH) sites, research how to maintain and manage them, and explore the different strategies for UAH conservation. Three recognised UAH sites in different countries (a traditional urban grape garden in Xuanhua, China; ‘Urban Gardening’ in Bamberg, Germany; and traditional farmsteads in the metropolitan city of Milan, Italy) were selected as examples. We first identified and analysed UAH features from the perspectives of spatial distribution, historical factors, ecological functions, and livelihood approaches. Thereafter, policy adjustments and management approaches of the three cities were explored in depth. The results reveal that the three sites still lack social concerns. Business models in Xuanhua and Milan need to be updated; a bottom-up management mechanism in Xuanhua, particularly towards water shortage, should be arranged; agro-biodiversity in Bamberg might be strengthened. Finally, suggestions have been made for the preservation and development of UAH at these sites. The six general strategies proposed in this study can be replicated and applied widely to guide UAH conservation in other regions. This could contribute to UAH preservation in the future.

Agricultural heritage sites: role in achieving sustainable development goals and ensuring a green transition

The authors investigated the role of objects of agricultural heritage sites in the preservation and development of rural society is revealed. The criteria for the assessment of objects of agricultural heritage of the Republic of Belarus are substantiated. Systematizes international approaches in this area. It was noted that the experience of functioning of objects of agricultural heritage confirms their role in solving a number of socio-economic problems traditional for rural areas. It is determined that the direct benefit from the use of heritage is measured by three main indicators: the number of new jobs, income growth and an increase in demand for products from other industries.

Agricultural heritage systems and agrobiodiversity

Agriculture is one of the main human activities with direct and indirect effects on the environment. The abandonment of many traditional agricultural practices, mainly for their inability to meet the current requirements of industrial agriculture, has brought to unsustainable agricultural systems characterized by high external energy inputs and by a high fragility to environmental and political shocks. Therefore, sustainable agriculture is nowadays crucial for preserving the environment. Agricultural heritage systems are receiving increasing attention at the international level, as testified by the establishment of the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) Programme by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The aim of the GIAHS Programme is, in fact, to identify and safeguard agro-silvo-pastoral systems resulting from the co-existence between humans and nature, which survived using traditional techniques are still providing many ecosystem services, while maintaining magnificent landscapes, wild and agricultural biodiversity, ancestral knowledge, and strong cultural and social values. These systems, based on sustainable practices, are still able to provide food and livelihood security, resources and services to local communities, but are also examples of adaptation and mitigation to climate change and to different and often difficult environmental conditions, as well as models of resilience and sustainability. In 2018 the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), together with the Department of Agriculture, Food, Environment and Forestry (DAGRI) of the University of Florence, developed a project called “GIAHS Building Capacity”, aimed at identifying agricultural heritage sites in different parts of the world. This Special Issue collects the results of investigations carried out in thirteen sites in Central and South America, Europe, Africa and Asia offering a wide an coherent perspective on agricultural heritage systems across the world. The papers included in the Special Issue proved that agricultural heritage systems, despite some vulnerabilities mainly due to socio-economic causes rather than to environmental ones, still provide different ecosystem services to local communities, including: food and byproducts supply, soil erosion protection, hydrogeological risk and deforestation defense, agrobiodiversity and biodiversity conservation, cultural landscape preservation, agro-tourism; at the same time they can be important for transmitting traditional knowledge to new generations and for the local identity. The GIAHS programme can play a key role in preserving traditional agricultural systems, and their related agrobiodiversity and ecosystem services, both in developing and developed countries. In fact, its aim is not limited to the conservation of these systems, but the whole Programme is based on the concept of dynamic conservation, as sustainable innovations are needed for the preservation of agricultural heritage systems and, therefore, for the future of rural areas and of rural communities. The research is part of the activities promoted by the UNESCO Chair on Agricultural Heritage Landscapes established at the University of Florence.

Sustainable intelligence and cultural worldview as triggers to preserve heritage tourism resources

This empirical study examines residents’ decision-making process in preserving Jeju Batdam as a World Agricultural Heritage Site. Accordingly, it extends the model of goal-directed behavior (MGB) by including cultural worldview and sustainable intelligence as triggers of desire and behavioral intentions of residents to preserve the agricultural heritage tourism resources. This study collected 368 valid responses from residents using quota sampling method. Results revealed that the cultural worldview and sustainable intelligence play a significant role in influencing residents’ behaviors toward the preservation of an agricultural heritage tourism resource (Batdam). Results also showed that attitude, positive and negative anticipated emotions, and perceived behavioral control increase desire, which stimulates residents’ behavioral intention to preserve the heritage. Desire mediates the effects of attitude, perceived behavioral control, and positive and negative anticipated emotions on the residents’ intention to preserve the heritage. Findings contribute to deepening the knowledge of sustainable agricultural heritage management by better understanding of residents’ decision-making process in preserving heritage resources. The outcomes of this study also provide policy implications with sustainable development and management policies of agricultural heritage sites.

Policy implications of willingness to pay for sustainable development of a world agricultural heritage site: The role of stakeholders' sustainable intelligence, support, and behavioral intention

AbstractThe willingness to pay (WTP) for preservation of a Globally Important Agricultural System, Jeju Batdom, South Korea is estimated. To help control for hypothetical bias, two scenarios are used, hypothetical and real settings. Further, this study investigates how the concepts of sustainable intelligence, residents' support, and behavioral intention affect WTP in addition to demographic variables. Finally, three types of preservation values (bequest, option, and existence) are examined to identify how each value influences WTP. As expected, the results reveal that WTP of the hypothetical setting is larger than the real setting. The explanatory variables of sustainable intelligence, residents' support, and behavioral intention significantly increase the WTP for preservation of Batdam. Implications are clear for the preservation of agricultural heritage sites, developing programs to increase residents' sustainable intelligence, support, and behavioral intention will increase WTP for preservation. Furthermore, the Jeju residents place the highest weight on bequest value, followed by option and existence values. The findings provide researchers and practitioners with important implications when they implement sustainable development of agricultural heritage resources.

Sustainable or Not? Tourism Development in Agricultural Heritage Sites

Tourism is often considered as one of the dynamic conservation and adaptive management approaches in Agricultural Heritage Sites. It has been over 15 years since the GIAHS programme was initiated in China, and tourism developed quickly in the Agricultural Heritage Sites, to some extent because many researchers consider tourism as a significant engine of the local economy. However, this is contrary to the original intention of agricultural heritage tourism as it was proposed in the first place. Apparently, there are some overt problems during the tourism development process, which are mainly as follows: Some threats to Agricultural Heritage Systems are ubiquitous; The tourism development mode in Agricultural Heritage Sites is questionable; Community involvement is difficult to implement; And the negative environmental impacts are easy to overlook. Under the context of global development, the UNWTO sustainable tourism criteria provide some guidance for agricultural heritage tourism. Based on the Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria, combined with previous survey experiences and related researches, this paper analyzes the tourism sustainability of all the 15 GIAHS sites in China, and explores the current sustainable tourism development level. On this basis, an agricultural heritage sustainable tourism development framework was built in an attempt to find the road to sustainability for agricultural heritage tourism. The framework in the global and local contexts is trying to connect all the important elements related to agricultural heritage tourism according to the UNWTO sustainable tourism criteria.

Ecological Benefit Evaluation of Agricultural Heritage System Conservation—A Case Study of the Qingtian Rice-Fish Culture System

In order to better understand the developmental conditions and trends of the biodiversity at agricultural heritage sites, the structure and function of the ecosystem and ecological environment in Qingtian Rice-Fish Culture System is examined in the decade since the implementation of the GIAHS project. Through the collection of historical data and sample-plot survey, this study collates the data from 2005 to 2013 related to the heritage site to evaluate the ecological benefit of the Agricultural Heritage System conservation. The results show that: (1) Since the implementation of heritage conservation, the variety of traditional rice grown at the heritage sites basically remains stable, the varieties of other crops basically remain unchanged and the varieties of fruit trees and medicinal plants have developed at faster rates. As the ecological environment at the heritage sites gradually improved, the species and richness of the biodiversity in the ecosystem have increased, especially the increasing growth of egrets and boars. (2) From 2005 to 2013 in the Fangshan Town of Qingtian County, the ecosystem areas identified as river, forest, urban and bare land have increased. The increased area of the urban ecosystem is the largest one of them, which is up to 20.30 ha; while the area of the forest ecosystem has increased to 7.29 ha. The areas of wetland, reservoir, farmland and grassland have been reduced, and the area of grassland ecosystem has been reduced the most with a reduction of 28.87 ha. From the changes in the values of the ecosystem services of different ecosystem types, the values of forest ecosystem services have achieved the most growth, reaching up to 92000 yuan yr-1 and the growth of the river and bare land ecosystem service values are not obvious. (3) Over nearly a decade, the soil nutrients and the water quality of rice fields at the heritage site have not obviously changed and the plant diseases and insect pests in the rice fields have not been aggravated. The monitoring indexes are far better than the standard values. With the great support of the local government, the production and living conditions and the living environments of farmers in the villages of the heritage sites have been greatly improved through road reconstruction, water improvement, toilet enhancements and the greening, brightness and beautification of the villages.

The spatial pattern of agricultural land use in China during the Holocene Megathermal

During the Holocene Megathermal, China entered a stage of extensive agricultural farming, although there are few reports on the possible distribution pattern of agricultural land use. The main objective of this paper is to discuss issues related to the spatial pattern of agricultural land use in China during the Holocene Megathermal. According to historic and archaeological information, three widely planted crops (foxtail millet, broom millet and rice) were selected to represent the main crops, and their distribution was assumed to reflect the agricultural land-use pattern at that time. From the perspective of these crops and their required climate conditions and based on proxy-based ancient temperature and precipitation data combined with modern climate data, an average annual accumulated temperature of ≥10°C in the Holocene Megathermal was retrieved and spatially interpolated to capture a picture of land use. Validation was conducted using archaeological data from 141 agricultural heritage sites. The results indicated that in the Holocene Megathermal, agricultural farming activities were widespread in China The northern-most boundary of agricultural land use was north of Daxinganling, and the southern-most boundary extended to Hainan Island. In the region of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau where climate is currently much colder than during the Holocene Megathermal, the environment for foxtail millet and broom millet was suitable from the eastern segment of the Qilian Mountains to Lhasa. This study provides a reference for exploring the distribution pattern of agricultural land use in the early period of agricultural production in China and provides useful information for agricultural archaeology.

Research on the Development and Industrialization of Leisure Agriculture Resources in Henan Agricultural Cultural Heritage Sites Based on Computer-aided Technology

As an extension and extension of traditional agriculture, leisure agriculture has higher added value than traditional agriculture. It is a combination of agriculture, agro-processing industry and service industry integrating tourism, leisure and sightseeing. As one of China’s major agricultural provinces, Henan’s rational development of agricultural leisure culture industry is an important and effective way to keep up with the pace of China’s agricultural industry modernization. This paper analyzes the potential advantages of Henan’s vigorous development of agricultural culture and leisure industry based on computer-aided technology, and puts forward suggestions and countermeasures for the construction of leisure agriculture in Henan agricultural cultural heritage sites, aiming to provide useful reference and reference for the development of leisure agricultural resources and industrialization in Henan province.

Analysis on Ecological Footprint of Agricultural Heritage Sites under Tourism Utilization: A Case Study of Nanfeng County

Tourism is an important way to achieve dynamic protection and adaptive management for agricultural heritage sites. The balanced relationship between tourism development and protection of agricultural heritage sites is the key to the sustainable development of its tourism industry. This paper uses Ecological Footprint Model (EF) to evaluate the ecological state of a specific agricultural heritage site, namely Nanfeng County in Jiangxi Province, China. The result indicates that Nanfeng County showed a safe ecological state under tourism utilization in 2015. It inspires how to realize sustainable tourism of agricultural heritage sites: 1) ecological environment is the guarantee of sustainable tourism development; 2) develop tourism adaptively based on actual resource characteristic; 3) social economy and tourism development should promote mutually. This study provides a scientific case for ecology security evaluation and sustainable tourism development of Nanfeng County.

The evaluation of industrial integration level of important agricultural heritage sites:A case study of Yunnan Honghe Hani rice terraces

The evaluation of industrial integration level of important agricultural heritage sites:A case study of Yunnan Honghe Hani rice terraces