Heritage Systems Research Articles

A Closer Look at Heritage Systems from Medieval Colors to Modern and Contemporary Artworks

This microreview, conducted by interdisciplinary teams, examines complex heritage material systems, such as medieval colors and modern and contemporary artworks. Our multi-analytical approach, a significant aspect of our research, is a means to this end. The conservation of works of art is our shared goal, as it ensures their accessibility and the transfer of cultural heritage to future generations. We seek to interpret the damage, usefulness, and innovation of the experimental design in this context. As Jan Wouters rightly points out, “The terminology used nowadays to describe the potential damage to objects caused by analysis should be refined beyond the destructiveness/non-invasiveness polarization. A terminology should include at least degree level intervention (low, medium, high), usefulness, and innovation”. Complementing micro- or sub-micro-sampling with the appropriate analytical methods is crucial, as exemplified in medieval, modern, and contemporary collections studies. Finally, a novel perspective for exploring the information contained in the multiscale heterogeneity of organic historical materials is envisaged, and it includes UV/Visible photoluminescence spectral imaging using a low-intensity ultraviolet synchrotron beam.

국가무형유산 범주로서의 '구전 전통 및 표현'에 대한 검토와 적용

There are 160 items designated as national intangible cultural heritage in South Korea, which can be classified into seven designation categories, however, not a single item has been designated in the category of “oral traditions and expressions.” The National Heritage Administration has recognized the need for new designations in this field and commissioned a two-year project. I criticize this as reflecting a lack of understanding of the “oral traditions and expressions” category and, furthermore, of the designation categories. Since intangible cultural heritage has diverse and three-dimensional characteristics, it is often not possible to limit it to a single category. The designation category is a detailed description of the scope of designation, and intangible cultural heritage can actually have multiple categories. Therefore, classifying intangible cultural heritage into a single category can generate many criticisms. Even UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage, which has greatly influenced our efforts, selects multiple designation categories (domains) and does not recognize them as affiliated departments. We also point out that using this designated category as a classification and publicizing it as-is can cause the general public to misunderstand a heritage item. To address this criticism, I examined the historical evolution of Korea’s designated categories. “Oral traditions and expressions” is a category that was created in 2016 under the influence of the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage system. Therefore, I explored how this category is used in this system and what heritage actually exists in “oral traditions and expressions.” Currently, 37 of the national intangible cultural heritages are “oral traditions and expressions.” However, these heritages are not limited to “oral traditions and expressions,” but have a complex nature. On the other hand, one thing that cannot be limited to “oral traditions and expressions” is “story culture,” or folktales. There is no room for discussion about the intangible cultural heritage value of folktales and the need to designate them as national or provincial intangible cultural heritages. However, when looking at the criteria of the existing intangible cultural heritage policy, several issues regarding the designation of folktales arise that are discussed.

Intangible heritage diplomacy and the Taiwan strait: kunqu revival 1987–2001

ABSTRACT In recent decades, the xiqu (‘Chinese opera’) genre of kunqu has grown in domestic and international prominence and is now an important part of PRC soft power and heritage projects. This article examines how Taiwanese institutions and aficionados contributed to the genre’s material revival. It does so by examining their involvement in kunqu in the 15 years before the UNESCO recognition that marked the genre’s improved fortunes. The engagement of Taiwanese institutions and audiences constitutes heritage diplomacy focused on a claim to shared culture, allowing kunqu troupes to improve a difficult situation at home and paving the way for greater international recognition. The fillip offered to kunqu by 1990s Taiwan, in the island’s period of transition from one-party rule to multiparty democracy, represents a late and successful ROC elite heritage diplomacy intervention in the ordering of cultural prestige in China, projecting its admiration for the favoured genre of its exiled and disappearing elite. Understanding both PRC and ROC cultural heritage systems can be improved by border-crossing and non-state perspectives of heritage diplomacy.

Rice sheath blight disease control by native endophytic Bacillus subtilis from Kuttanad, a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System

ABSTRACT Kuttanad in India is known as ‘the rice bowl of Kerala’ and renowned for its unique rice cultivation system that is below sea level. However, rice production in this wetland ecosystem is seriously threatened by sheath blight disease caused by the fungus Rhizoctonia solani, which has resulted in a significant decline in grain quality and a 50% loss in yield. In the present study, we isolated two endophytic Bacillus subtilis strains, NIIST B616 and NIIST B627, from the roots of rice plants growing in the Kuttanad region and tested their efficacy in controlling sheath blight disease. We found that rice plants inoculated with a combination of both Bacillus strains and R. solani had a 64.71% lower disease incidence and a 31.02% higher harvest index than plants treated with R. solani alone. An analysis of defence-related enzymes and chemicals revealed that treatment with both isolates together greatly enhanced levels of l-phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL; 2.8 fold), peroxidase (POX; 7.4 fold), polyphenol oxidase (PPO; 4.5 fold), and total phenol (8.5 fold) compared with plants treated solely with R. solani, indicating that these isolates significantly increased plant defence responses through induced systemic resistance (ISR), and this finding was validated through a split-root experiment. More detailed analysis using gas chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) and liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) techniques revealed that cyclo-(Pro-Leu) and cyclo-(Pro-Phe) were the major components responsible for the antifungal properties of the two isolates and their capacity to trigger ISR in plants. Thus, the Bacillus strains and their metabolites may be deemed viable alternatives for controlling the prevalence of sheath blight disease in rice plants and augmenting rice production at unique locations such as Kuttanad.

Assessing current environmental conditions and climate change influences on Syngonanthus nitens (Bong.) Ruhland: an endemic species and economic resource for extractive communities as globally important agricultural heritage systems

Capim dourado, also known as sedinha, refers to the everlasting flower Syngonanthus nitens (Bong.) Ruhland (Eriocaulaceae), prized for its use in crafting and as a significant income source for communities in Minas Gerais, Bahia, and Tocantins, Brazil. This plant is also utilized in the creation of highly valued jewelry and accessories on the global market. This study aims to ascertain the thermal and humidity thresholds of S. nitens while mapping and predicting its current and future distribution. Initially, distribution data was gathered through a literature review, supplemented by biological temperature and humidity data collected from the Quilombola Raiz Community in Minas Gerais and a germination experiment conducted at the Integrated Multi-User Research Laboratory of the Jequitinhonha and Mucuri Valleys (LIPEMVALE). Climate Index (CLIMEX) parameters were defined using biological information and occurrence locations. The optimal temperature range for S. nitens development is between 18 and 24 °C, with minimum and maximum thresholds of 5 °C and 40 °C respectively. Ninety-two occurrence records were found, all situated in South America, aligning with high climate suitability regions as per the model predictions. Future projections for 2050 and 2100 indicate a decrease in areas suitable for S. nitens. These findings provide crucial insights for decision-making, necessitating measures such as widespread monitoring, collaborative conservation efforts, and the establishment of sustainable use zoning to manage S. nitens effectively.

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 Meadoway: native meadow creation in underutilized transmission line corridors

Across Ontario, Canada, there are over 30 000 km of transmission line corridors. With proper planning and ongoing maintenance and monitoring, these corridors have the potential to be transformed into native meadow, offering vital pathways connecting natural heritage systems and supporting wildlife movement, while promoting biodiversity, natural functions, and ecosystem health. In 2019, seeding trials were established in the Gatineau Hydro Corridor in east Toronto where a long-term meadow creation project (The Meadoway) is ongoing, to evaluate the effectiveness of herbicide treatment (glyphosate), sowing method, and sowing season on seeding success with the goal of informing site-specific meadow creation techniques. Seed mixes included a variety of native grasses and forbs and were dominated by copper savannah grass ( Sorghastrum nutans), big bluestem ( Andropogon gerardii), little bluestem ( Schizachyrium scoparium), and switch grass ( Panicum virgatum). Overall, fall or winter seeding with herbicide led to the highest seeding success. There was no difference in the effectiveness of hand seeding or using the seed drill. The results of this work provide valuable insights into effective seeding techniques to improve seeding success and also highlight the benefits of in situ experimentation to inform meadow creation techniques.

Cardamom (Amomum tsaoko) agroforest is important habitat for skywalker hoolock gibbon (Hoolock tianxing) in Mt. Gaoligong, Yunnan, China

Understory plantation of cardamom (genus Amomum) is an ancient and widespread agroforestry practice in the eastern Himalayas and Southeast Asia, an area that supports high regional biodiversity. Cardamom provides an important cash income to rural people, and governments encourage cardamom cultivation as a replacement for slash-and-burn agriculture to alleviate poverty, aligning with the principles of the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) program initiated by the FAO. This program recognizes and supports traditional agricultural practices that contributes to biodiversity conservation and sustainable development. In this context, cardamom agroforestry not only supports local economies but also provides crucial habitat for animals, including the newly described skywalker hoolock gibbon (Hoolock tianxing). Nearly half of the remnant population of the skywalker hoolock gibbon lives in cardamom agroforest. In order to evaluate if gibbons could survive in cardamom agroforest for a relatively long term, we compared foraging behavior of gibbons over a year living in cardamom agroforests (group NA) and well-preserved forests (group BB) in Mt. Gaoligong, Yunnan, China. In response to habitat degradation caused by cardamom plantation, group NA increased feeding time and spent more time feeding on leaves. Notably, they consumed nuts of Castanopsis hystrix which is an unusual food type for gibbons. On the contrary, members of group BB rarely ate nuts though Castanopsis hystrix is abundant within its home range. However, group NA did not occupy a large home range, or travel longer in time or distance than group BB. We also monitored female reproduction of five groups for 5–13 years. Two adult females living in agroforests successfully reared two or three offspring with an inter-birth interval of five years. In addition, we surveyed group size of 16 groups (9 in agroforest vs. 7 in well preserved forests) from 2017 to 2023, and we found no significant difference in group size between habitats. Our results suggested that cardamom agroforest can sustain skywalker hoolock gibbons provided it is not too fragmented and hunting is prohibited.

Research on the construction of intangible cultural heritage corridors in the Yellow River Basin based on geographic information system (GIS) technology and the minimum cumulative resistance (MCR) model

Objectively and accurately identifying the spatial structure and protection scope of intangible cultural heritage and constructing intangible cultural heritage corridors are crucial for the comprehensive systematic protection of intangible cultural heritage and the synergistic development of the region. However, the current research on intangible cultural heritage is limited to the protection and development of intangible cultural heritage in specific locations or specific areas. Thus, systematic and holistic research perspectives are relatively limited. Therefore, this study employs geographic information system spatial analysis and the minimum cumulative resistance model to construct an intangible cultural heritage corridor in the Yellow River Basin. This study aims to establish a systematic protection method and framework for intangible cultural heritage. The results show the following: (1) The intangible cultural heritage in the Yellow River Basin has a large-scale centralized distribution and small-scale scattered distribution, which provides an important spatial basis for the construction of intangible cultural heritage corridors. (2) Overall, intangible cultural heritage corridors can be more effectively constructed in the eastern region of the Yellow River Basin than in the western region, with 84.6% of the area being suitable and 15.4% being unsuitable. (3) Based on the suitability analysis, the "18 + N" corridor system of intangible cultural heritage in the Yellow River Basin, distributed across the eastern, central and southern regions, is constructed. The major corridor has a suitable width of 60–100 km, a total length of 11,935 km, and an area of 625,976 km2–919,942 km2, and can connect 634–711 intangible cultural heritage sites in series. On this basis, this study proposes a multilevel construction system for intangible cultural heritage corridors in the Yellow River Basin that integrates the "network structure–spatial scope" and "element–axis–region" levels. This approach culminates in a pattern of intangible cultural heritage protection and development in the Yellow River Basin characterized by "connecting points into lines, distributing in groups, and linking regions." This study reveals that combining geographic information system spatial analysis tools with a minimum cumulative resistance model effectively identifies potential heritage corridor networks and clarifies the hierarchical relationships of heritage element protection in the study area. This approach provides a reference model for the comprehensive protection and systematic development of intangible cultural heritage in the Yellow River Basin. Furthermore, the effectiveness and universality of this framework make it applicable to the protection and development of other similar international heritage areas.

The Construction of Native Cultural Heritage System Based on the Study of Native Cultural Resources

The Construction of Native Cultural Heritage System Based on the Study of Native Cultural Resources

World Heritage and human rights

This paper describes the protracted nomination to the UNESCO World Heritage (WH) List of the Keang Krachan Forest Complex, Thailand and the issues it exposed. The complex was inscribed in 2021, seven years after it was first nominated, despite ongoing conflict with indigenous Karen hunter-gatherer communities. The nomination was referred back to the state party by the WH Committee in 2015, 2016 and 2019 for reasons related to inconclusive and out-of-date ecological information, and human rights issues associated with the forced resettlement of Karen hill tribe people living within its proposed boundaries. In 2020 the nomination was resubmitted during the 4th mandate of the Thai state party on the WH Committee, and the property was inscribed contrary to a formal recommendation to defer the nomination, and despite repeated communications from the Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights to the WH Centre, the Thai government and the WH Committee seeking resolution of community and human rights issues prior to inscription. Decisions that run contrary to the advice of the WH Committee’s three advisory bodies have become an abiding and troubling aspect of the Committee’s decision-making, reflecting a trend in the politicisation of Committee sessions that has increased over more than 20 years, to a point where it now threatens the integrity of the World Heritage system. This paper examines how the state party pursued its WH ambitions and the impacts this had on particular indigenous Karen communities during national designation and nomination to the WH List. It demonstrates the issues that arise due to legacy nature conservation approaches to the management of extensive natural protected areas.

The World Heritage Convention, human rights and Indigenous Peoples

This article discusses how the World Heritage Convention contradicts and coalesces with rights to culture and rights of Indigenous Peoples as asserted in international law. It describes the origin and universalistic aims of the Convention, and how the Convention’s state-centrism and Eurocentric heritage discourses have stymied the equitable participation of Indigenous Peoples in World Heritage conservation. However it also asserts that a broadening conceptualisation of World Heritage value alongside an increasing focus on synchronicity with human rights can enable recognition and protection of Indigenous Peoples’ worldviews, rights and cultural continuity under an international legal framework. Finally, the article examines the variance among states parties and the World Heritage Committee in upholding human rights standards, using case studies of five World Heritage sites: Budj Bim Cultural Landscape, Australia; Pimachiowin Aki and Wood Buffalo National Park, Canada; the Kenya Lake System in the Great Rift Valley, Kenya; and Kaeng Krachan Forest Complex in Thailand. The article concludes that despite the rights-based turn of recent years, the World Heritage system remains inconsistent in its adherence to international human rights standards.

Cultural rice fields in the wave of climate change: a multilateral evolutionary game framework for adaptive management of agricultural heritage systems

Agricultural Heritage Systems (AHS) are pivotal in preserving rich agricultural production experience and traditional culture, as well as in maintaining biodiversity and promoting sustainable development in agriculture and rural economies. However, climate change poses significant threats to these systems, such as ecological degradation, biodiversity loss, and shifts in agricultural production patterns. This study, grounded in theories of information asymmetry and bounded rationality, constructs evolutionary game models for adaptive management of AHS under market mechanisms and government guidance. By employing stability analysis and numerical simulation with Delay Differential Equations (DDE) that consider historical delays, and through sensitivity analysis, this research delves into the strategic evolutionary outcomes of stakeholders under various scenarios. It aims to provide theoretical insights and policy recommendations for the dynamic protection and adaptive management of AHS in the face of climate change. The findings indicate that the public goods nature of AHS, alongside externalities and information asymmetry, leads to market failure. Sole reliance on autonomous actions by farmers and meteorological departments is insufficient for optimal resource allocation and effective protection. Government intervention, through regulatory and incentive measures, can effectively mitigate market failures and steer adaptive management of AHS towards efficiency and sustainability. Moreover, the study identifies key factors for adaptive management, such as enhancing stakeholders’ initial willingness to participate, reducing the costs of adapting to climate change, optimizing cooperative benefit distribution mechanisms, and increasing the profitability of resource cooperation. Sensitivity analysis of government subsidies and penalty mechanisms further reveals the complex and critical role these policy tools play in fostering stakeholder engagement. Based on these findings, the study recommends enhancing initial participation willingness, controlling transformation costs to alleviate economic burdens, optimizing benefit distribution mechanisms to boost cooperative resource profitability, and establishing dynamic subsidy and penalty mechanisms for optimal resource allocation. The theoretical and practical contributions of this research lie in applying theories of information asymmetry and bounded rationality to the adaptive management of AHS under climate change, enriching the theoretical framework in this field, and providing scientific decision-making support for policymakers. By demonstrating an effective path for AHS protection through combined government and market mechanisms in the context of global climate change, this research holds significant theoretical and practical implications for enhancing the efficiency of adaptive management of AHS, protecting, and inheriting valuable agricultural cultural heritage.

Livelihood and Food Security in the Context of Sustainable Agriculture: Evidence from Tea Agricultural Heritage Systems in China.

The conservation of agricultural heritage systems (AHSs) has played a pivotal role in fostering the sustainable development of agriculture and safeguarding farmers' livelihoods and food security worldwide. This significance is particularly evident in the case of tea AHSs, due to the economic and nutritional value of tea products. Taking the Anxi Tieguanyin Tea Culture System (ATTCS) and Fuding White Tea Culture System (FWTCS) in Fujian Province as examples, this study uses statistical analyses and a multinomial logistic regression model to assess and compare farmer livelihood and food security at the tea AHS sites. The main findings are as follows. First, as the tea industries are at different stages of development, compared with agricultural and non-agricultural part-time households, the welfare level of pure agricultural households is lowest in the ATTCS, while welfare is the highest in the FWTCS. Second, factors such as the area of tea gardens and the number of laborers significantly affect farmers' livelihood strategies transformation from pure agricultural households to agricultural part-time households in the ATTCS and FWTCS. Third, the high commodity rate of tea products, combined with compound cultivation in tea gardens, provides local people with essential sources of income, food, and nutrients, so as to improve food security in the ATTCS and FWTCS. These findings are essential for designing policies to ensure farmers' livelihoods and food security through AHSs and other sustainable agriculture.

A conceptual framework for characterization of agricultural heritage in desert-prone areas

PurposeThis study aims to propose a comprehensive conceptual framework for the characterization of agricultural heritage in desert-prone areas, with a focus on Siwa Oasis in Egypt.Design/methodology/approachThe research utilizes a multidimensional approach, integrating perspectives from sustainability principles, stakeholders and the agricultural heritage frameworks of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO). It involves thematic analysis of qualitative data collected through focus group discussions and interviews with a diverse range of participants, including community members, government officials, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and researchers.FindingsThe study identifies five key elements of agricultural heritage in Siwa Oasis: cultural, ecological, economic, social and scientific. Cultural elements include traditional farming practices, irrigation systems and architectural features, while ecological elements encompass crop biodiversity, wildlife habitats and traditional landraces. Economically, date palm cultivation, olive production and agritourism activities play crucial roles in livelihood security and local economies. Socially, community cohesion, gender roles and cultural practices shape the social fabric of the oasis, with festivals and rituals fostering a sense of belonging. From a scientific perspective, the integration of traditional knowledge with modern agricultural practices enhances sustainability and resilience.Research limitations/implicationsThe study focused solely on Siwa Oasis as a case study, limiting generalizability to other desert-prone areas. Further research could explore additional regions to enhance the understanding of agricultural heritage in diverse contexts. Additionally, the qualitative nature of the study may limit statistical analysis. Future studies could employ mixed-methods approaches for a more comprehensive understanding of agricultural heritage dynamics.Practical implicationsUnderstanding the multifaceted aspects of agricultural heritage in Siwa Oasis can inform sustainable development initiatives, tourism planning and cultural preservation efforts. Local policymakers and stakeholders can utilize these insights to develop policies that support traditional farming practices, ecotourism and community development. Furthermore, the promotion of agricultural heritage can enhance economic opportunities, food security and environmental sustainability in desert-prone regions.Social implicationsRecognition of the social elements embedded within Siwa Oasis’s agricultural heritage highlights the importance of community cohesion, gender roles and cultural practices. By acknowledging and preserving these aspects, initiatives can be developed to empower local communities, promote gender equality and preserve cultural identity. Such efforts can enhance social cohesion, strengthen cultural bonds and promote inclusivity in the development agenda of desert-prone areas.Originality/valueThis study contributes a novel conceptual framework that bridges multifunctionality concepts, sustainability principles and stakeholder perspectives to characterize agricultural heritage in desert-prone areas. It offers insights into the complex interplay of cultural, ecological, economic, social and scientific dimensions of agricultural heritage systems.

Agro-Silvo-Pastoral Heritage Conservation and Valorization—A Comparative Analysis of the Chinese Nationally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems and of the Italian Register of Historical Rural Landscapes

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.

Water quality dynamics and underlying controls in the Halton Region, Ontario.

We assessed the hydrochemistry of 15 watersheds in the Halton Region, southern Ontario, in high resolution (n > 500 samples across n > 40 streams) to characterize water quality dynamics and governing controls on major and trace element concentrations in this rapidly urbanizing region. In 2022, major water quality parameters were generally in line with historic monitoring data yet significantly different across catchments, e.g., in specific conductance, turbidity, phosphate and chloride, and trace element concentrations. Distinct hydrochemical signatures were observed between urban and rural creeks, with urban stream sections and sites near the river mouths close to Lake Ontario having consistently higher chloride (up to 700mg/L) and occasional enrichment in nutrients levels (up to 8 and 20mg/L phosphate and nitrate, respectively). Particularly upper reaches exhibited hydrochemical signatures that were reflective of the catchment surface lithologies, for instance through higher dissolved Ca to Mg ratios. Unlike for chloride and phosphate, provincial water quality guidelines for trace elements and heavy metals were seldom surpassed (on < 10 occasions for copper, zinc, cadmium, and uranium). Concentrations of other trace elements (e.g., platinum group elements or rare earth elements) were expectedly low (< 0.3µg/L) but showed spatiotemporal concentration patterns and concentration-discharge dynamics different from those of the major water quality parameters. Our results help improve the understanding of surface water conditions within Halton's regional Natural Heritage Systems and demonstrate how enhanced environmental monitoring can deliver actionable information for watershed decision-making.

Unveiling Climate Trends and Future Projections in Southeastern Brazil: A Case Study of Brazil’s Historic Agricultural Heritage

The intricate relationship between climate and society in a given region demands a profound understanding of climate patterns, especially in agricultural areas like Diamantina, Minas Gerais (MG), recognized by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) as the birthplace of the first Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS) in Brazil, situated in the southwest region of the country. Given the growing concerns about climate change, we conducted a meticulous analysis of the climatic characteristics of Diamantina-MG. To achieve this, we examined historical meteorological data from 1973 to 2022, employing the Mann–Kendall and Sen’s slope tests to analyze trends. Additionally, we utilized three global climate models (GCMs) under different shared socioeconomic pathways (SSPs) to predict future climate scenarios (2021–2100) based on the projections of the sixth phase of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP6). Furthermore, we used Köppen and Thornthwaite climate classification methodologies to characterize both the current and future climate conditions of the region. Our results indicate that, historically, Diamantina-MG has experienced significant increases in minimum temperature, indicating a warmer climate in recent decades. For temperature, the projections show a consensus among models, projecting a continuous increase, potentially reaching up to 5.8 °C above the historical average temperature (19.2 °C) by the end of the century. Regarding rainfall projections, they show greater uncertainty, with discrepancies among models observed until 2060. However, specifically for the second half of the century (2060–2100), the models agree that there will be increases in annual rainfall. Regarding the climatic types of the region, we found that the current Köppen Cwb and Thornthwaite B3rB’3a’ classifications could shift to Aw and B1wA’a’, representing a humid tropical savanna climate with longer periods of water deficiency, considering the impacts resulting from increased air temperature and evapotranspiration. In summary, the study’s results indicate that climate changes are occurring and are likely to intensify in the Jequitinhonha Valley region, MG, in the future. The analysis of these data, from the perspective of the Brazilian GIAHS sustainability, reveals the importance of considering adaptation and mitigation measures to ensure the resilience of agricultural systems and local communities in the region that face these significant environmental changes.

Review of the high bed–low ditch system as an alternative to lowland paddy in tropical and subtropical Asia

Many forms of traditional raised bed systems could be found around the world. Several of them have been identified as Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) sites by Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Unlike traditional raised bed systems with similar structures in the Americas, the high bed–low ditch (HBLD) system in tropical and subtropical Asia, which is originated and developed from rice production, has been playing an important role in enhancing food security and maintaining farmer livelihood for centuries. Moreover, products provided by HBLD system are not only important for the livelihood of the local farmers, but also important for people living in the nearby towns and cities especially for vegetable and fruit supply. In this system, the ditches or sunken beds can be used to lower the groundwater table, retain nutrients and soil particles washed from the bed, grow rice or aquatic vegetables, and raise fish or shrimp. The HBLD system can also help to reduce salinity in coastal lowlands due to the presence of ditches. The raised beds can be used to grow various upland crops. Compared with rice monocropping, the adoption of HBLD system significantly improves the cropping intensity, productivity, employment, and income of farmers. Famers’ long-term practices fully demonstrate that this system is a type of sustainable agriculture with strong adaptability to the changes of natural environment. However, it should also be noted that the large-scale development of HBLD systems is not simply dependent on natural conditions, but is also determined by specific socioeconomic factors, such as good transportation facilities, a well market system, and a sufficient supply of labor. As a model of equilibrium between food production and high levels of biodiversity maintenance, the HBLD system is an important agricultural heritage system with global significance, and it should be well preserved and utilized in new ways to realize its important multiple functions under conditions of rapid urbanization in lowland and coastal regions.

Construction of the Chinese Route of Industrial Heritage Based on Spatial and Temporal Distribution Analysis

In the context of cultural routes, in order to achieve overall protection of industrial heritage, the European Route of Industrial Heritage (ERIH) was established to organize and promote the entire European industrial heritage. The conservation and utilization of Chinese industrial heritage are currently dominated by individual cases, which limits their potential to contribute to regional sustainable development. There is an urgent need of a conservation system at the regional or national level, to ensure that Chinese industrial heritage conservation effectively contributes to regional sustainable development. This study considers the industrial heritage of China built between 1840 and 1978 to establish the Chinese Industrial Heritage GIS Database (CIHGD). The analysis shows that the distribution of China’s industrial heritage is mainly concentrated in the eastern and southern coastal areas, and the industrial heritage has formed three key regions, 14 key cities, and important railway and water systems located in eastern China. The CRIH facilitates the holistic conservation of China’s industrial heritage and provides basic data for future research on China’s industrial heritage. The objective of this study is to promote the establishment of an information-based management system for industrial heritage in China, and to explore the value evaluation, protection system, and regional tourism of industrial heritage from a national perspective in China.