Heritage Systems Research Articles

Research on Environmental Regeneration Evaluation System and Design of Industrial Heritage from the Perspective of City-Industry Integration

Research on Environmental Regeneration Evaluation System and Design of Industrial Heritage from the Perspective of City-Industry Integration

A Review of the Progress in Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) Monitoring

In order to protect traditional agricultural systems of global importance, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) launched an initiative for the conservation of Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) in 2002. After nearly two decades of development, the number of GIAHS has increased from the initial 5 in 2005 to the current 65 in 22 countries around the world. Despite the remarkable increase in the number of GIAHS, many countries are now facing the difficult task of dynamic conservation and adaptive management of GIAHS. As an important element of heritage management, monitoring plays an important role in improving the level of heritage management. Scientific and effective monitoring can not only achieve the conservation of the heritage itself and the maintenance of its value, but also the sustainable development of the heritage site. However, FAO did not put forward mandatory requirements for GIAHS monitoring, nor did it issue any guiding document on GIAHS monitoring, but left it to various countries to explore their own GIAHS monitoring. In this context, the paper systematically sorts out the theoretical research and practical exploration of GIAHS monitoring conducted by different countries and research institutions, comparing and analyzing the differences between the theoretical design of monitoring GIAHS themselves and that of GIAHS action plan monitoring, as well as the differences in practical exploration of GIAHS monitoring among China, South Korea, Japan and Portugal. This paper argues that countries and research institutions face common problems in the research and application of GIAHS monitoring, which are: (1) low enthusiasm of heritage sites about participation; (2) lack of legal and financial support; and (3) lack of technical support and guidance. To further promote GIAHS monitoring globally and better promote dynamic conservation and adaptive management of GIAHS, this paper proposes that FAO should cooperate with various countries to establish a unified, scientific and efficient GIAHS monitoring system, including: (1) clarifying monitoring requirements and formulating monitoring guidelines; (2) improving the management system and establishing incentive mechanisms; (3) promoting multi-stakeholder participation and strengthening technical training.

Drivers of Environmental Conservation Agriculture in Sado Island, Niigata Prefecture, Japan

Sado Island in the Niigata prefecture in Japan is one of the first Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) among developed countries and has since been involved in environmental conservation agriculture (ECA). While ECA is still in its early stage in Japan, it has proven to be effective in mitigating climate change in the agricultural sector; hence, this study aimed to identify drivers of ECA among Sado Island paddy farmers. The data revealed the prevalence of farmers’ cognitive dissonance between ECA and its mitigating effects on climate change. Our findings confirmed the importance of perceived GIAHS involvement in the continuation of ECA. In addition, other identified drivers of ECA fall either on a macro-level (i.e., farmers’ awareness of their role in improving their environment) or micro-level (i.e., farmers’ differing farm optimizations). These perspectives highlighted the altruistic nature of the Sado Island ECA paddy farmers by valuing the improvement of their local and global environment as their main reason to continue ECA, whereas their various farm management optimizations support this observed farmer altruism by providing avenues to increase yield with only a moderate paddy land area. This study highlights the need to continuously develop sustainable strategies to maintain and improve a positive farmer mindset towards ECA.

Protecting Traditional Agricultural Landscapes by Promoting Industrial Integration Development: Practices from Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (IAHS) Sites in China

Traditional agricultural landscapes (TAL) have a long history. They have received significant attention due to concerns regarding their multiple functions and scarcity. Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (IAHS), designated by the FAO or some countries, are typical TAL that are facing conservation problems. This study takes IAHS as an example and examines the pathway and coordinating mechanism that industrial integration development (IID) uses to promote TAL conservation using available literature reviews and field surveys in IAHS sites. The findings suggest that the main pathways protecting IAHS, depending on IID, include increasing product price by IAHS branding, diversifying farmers’ income by developing special resources, and employing more seasonal surplus laborers by extending local industrial chains. Building a fair and reasonable benefit coordination mechanism among stakeholders in IID is crucial to prompt IAHS conservation. It rests on accurately identifying key stakeholders in IAHS conservation, selecting industrial organization modes that are suitable to an IAHS site, and introducing beneficial distribution mechanisms that can encourage farmers to stay on the farm. The case studies show that diversifying income channels and increasing income with industrial development are the main forces driving farmers to protect IAHS. The IID based on IAHS resources and the win-win benefit distribution principle are key to sustainable conservation.

Museum Matters: Making and Unmaking Mexico's National Collections

Museum Matters: Making and Unmaking Mexico's National Collections

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.

Effects of land use type and tank components on soil properties and sustainability of tank cascade system in the Dry Zone of north central Sri Lanka

CONTEXTVillage tank cascade system (VTCS) is a globally important agricultural heritage system in Dry Zone watersheds of Sri Lanka. Lands in these watersheds have been under changing management conditions in the recent past, hence their sustainability has been suspected. OBJECTIVEObjectives of this study were to determine current status of soil properties in different land uses and tank components of a VTCS with respect to their position in the watershed, and to assess sustainability of this agricultural system using soil organic carbon management index (CMI) as a proxy. METHODSStudy was conducted in Mahakanumulla VTCS in North Central Dry Zone of Sri Lanka. Soil samples (n = 120) were collected from lands under forest, scrub/shrub, paddy and upland crops representing all elevations in two linear transects located in higher and lower positions along the main valley. Soils from components of tanks in upper and lower positions were also collected. Soil texture and some chemical properties were measured. The CMI in different land uses was calculated using total organic carbon (TOC) and permanganate oxidizable carbon contents. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONSEffect of land use type on soil properties did not vary with position in the watershed (p > 0.05). An increase in available phosphorus and sulphur was observed in agricultural lands. Significant decreases in TOC (33%) and total N (43%) contents were observed in paddy lands compared to those of forest lands (p < 0.01). However, CMI indicated that management practices in paddy lands and upland soils are still sustainable but scrub/shrub lands need improvements to arrest their degradation. Electrical conductivity, pH, available P, K and Zn were significantly higher in lower positions while total N was lower. Thaulla (inundation area) and Perahana (filter) tank components had regulated flow of clay particles while Kattakaduwa (interceptor) has significantly high available P and TOC contents due to high wetness. Principal component analysis revealed factors that control soil erosion, soil organic matter content, water movement, cation availability and P dynamics governed the variability of major soil properties. Accumulation of soluble salts in lands of lower positions and increase of available plant nutrients in agricultural lands suggest that management practices so far adopted have slightly degraded soil fertility in this VTCS. SIGNIFICANCEFurther degradation of soils in lower positions and scrub/shrub lands in the watershed will negatively affect the livelihood of villagers and the environment. Hence, appropriate land management policies should be introduced to this agricultural system to ensure their sustainability.

Challenges to conserve world agricultural heritages in a market economy: Experiences in Nishi-Awa, Japan

The Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems – established by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in 2002 – is a certification expected to conserve traditional agro-ecosystems and associated biodiversity, natural resources, outstanding landscapes, and cultural heritages that are at risk of extinction in the current market system. Employing the Nishi-Awa Steep Slope Land Agriculture System in Tokushima Prefecture, Japan, designated as Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System in 2018, as the case study, this research explores the potential and contradictions of Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System to incorporate alternative values such as traditional knowledge, biodiversity, landscape, healthy diets, and cultural heritages into the dominant hierarchy of values that favor market competitiveness. Based on original field surveys, literature review, and qualitative analyses, the study demonstrates that while the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System certification is expected to bring considerable economic opportunity through an increase in international tourists and price appreciation of the local agri-food products certified by a local agri-food labeling system (established by the public and private actors in the designated area), this system does not explicitly guarantee the values claimed in Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System certification. Therefore, the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System scheme to conserve the claimed values in designated areas is faced with a contradictory situation in a market economy.

GIAHS Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems and the Mediterranean case Selge in the protection of rural-agricultural landscapes

Amaç: İklim değişikliğine uyum ve gıda güvenliği açısından çözüm alanları olmalarıyla öne çıkan kırsal peyzajlar ve özellikle de bu alanlarda bulunan üretim sistemlerini içeren tarımsal peyzajların bir örneğini içeren Selge Antik yerleşimi ve tarım terasları Küresel Öneme Sahip Tarımsal Miras Sistemleri (GIAHS) programı kapsamında incelenmiştir. Materyal ve Yöntem: Çalışma yöntemi GIAHS alanlarının taşıması gereken özellikler ile GIAHS sistemlerinin seçim kriterleri, adaylık süreçleri ve eylem planları ile GIAHS programına dahil olan alanların incelemesine dayanmaktadır. Selge antik tarım terasları kriterlere uygun başlıklar altında değerlendirilmiştir. Araştırma Bulguları: GIAHS geleneksel tarımsal sistemlerini ve peyzajlarını esas almaktadır ve küresel açıdan sıra dışı geleneksel tarımsal sistemleri için sürdürülebilir gelişmenin korunması öngörülmektedir. Bu nedenle seçim kriterleri adaylık sürecinin en önemli bileşenleri arasındadır. Selge tarım terasları GIAHS’ın esas aldığı geleneksel tarım sistemlerini ve tarımsal peyzajları somut ve somut olmayan değerleriyle birlikte karşılamaktadır. Sonuç: Selge kentinin GIAHS sistemine dahil olması durumunda kentin özellikle ön plana çıkan geleneksel üretim yöntemleri ve tarım terasları konusunda alınması beklenen önlemler ve getirilen öneriler için destek sağlanmış olacaktır.

First report of rice grain discolouration and leaf blight caused by Pantoea ananatis in the Kuttanad agro-ecosystem, Kerala, India

Rice is one of the most important staple food crops, and bacterial diseases are among the major limitations to its productivity and yield. Kuttanad is a unique agro-climatic region in Kerala, India, where rice cultivation occurs below sea level. It is recognized as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. In July 2021, grain discolouration and leaf blight symptoms were noted on rice plants in the field. Leaves developed yellowish to brown lesions, which turned a pale white to straw colour as the disease progressed. Bacteria were isolated from symptomatic leaves and grains. The pathogenicity of a recovered bacterial strain was assessed by artificial inoculation and Koch’s postulates were met. Re-isolation of the pathogenic strain showed high similarity with the originally recovered strain. The 16S rRNA gene was sequenced (accession no. OK398432) and found to have 100% similarity with Pantoea ananatis, an emerging pathogen of rice. To our knowledge, this is the first report of P.ananatis from the Kuttanad region of India.

Evaluating ecological mechanisms and optimization strategy of rice–fish co–culture system by ecosystem approach

The rice–fish co–culture ecosystem has a long history and has been designated as a “globally important agricultural heritage system”. Recognizing the ecological legacy of this system from an ecosystem perspective may help develop novel sustainable agriculture and aquaculture. This study investigated the structure and function of two different ecosystems of rice and common carp (Cyprinus carpio) using the Ecopath model, which is an ecosystem approach. Two treatments were designed, including the control ecosystem (without common carp, RM) and the treatment ecosystem (with common carp, RF). Seventeen and eighteen functional groups were incorporated into the models of these two ecosystems. The results showed that 1) the introduction of carp increased the energy transfer pathways, and the number of pathways of the RF system was 78.69% more than that of the RM system; 2) the feeding of carp on detritus, benthos, and hydrophytes enhanced the energy transfer efficiency of the RF system at all trophic levels, and the energy transfer efficiency of the RF system was 67.86% higher than that of the RM system; and 3) the indices of flow fluxes, matter cycling, and network information showed that the RF system was more complex, stable, and mature. To improve the energy utilization efficiency on the basis of the long–term energy balance, the maximum stocking density (34.850 g·m−2) was determined by regulating the biomass of common carp. Overall, co–culture with common carp could increase the number of energy transfer pathways, improve the energy utilization efficiency, and enhance the stability and maturity of the rice field ecosystem, representing sustainable agriculture practices. This may be the ecological mechanism by which rice–fish co–culture survives. It also demonstrates that management strategy evaluation utilizing ecosystem models is a powerful policy–screening tool that can inform the resource management decision process.

Progresses and Perspectives of the Resource Evaluation Related to Agri-Cultural Heritage Tourism

The scientific evaluation of tourism resources is not only an important prerequisite for the development of agri-cultural heritage tourism (AHT), but it can also promote the conservation and management of Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (IAHS). With the goal of providing scientific support for the sustainable management of tourism resources, this review systematically analyzes the overall situation, research regions, developmental timeline trends, key fields and hot topics of resource evaluation research related to AHT over 2005–2020. With a comprehensive perspective that incorporates both traditional literature review and quantitative literature review, the study revealed four important aspects of AHT research. (1) Relevant articles could be divided into two phases, a development-oriented period (2005–2012) and a conservation-oriented period (2013–2020). (2) GIAHS accounts for the absolute majority (about 66.7%) of relevant studies. In particular, Longji Terraces System, Hani terraces system and Dong's Rice-Fish-Duck System were the research hotspots IAHS, and Yunnan, Zhejiang and Guangxi were the research hotspot provinces. (3) Terraced landscapes and tea culture were the most popular themes in tourism resource evaluation, while sports tourism, tea culture tourism and study tours are becoming the new trends in IAHS sites. (4) Research methods have undergone a shift from qualitative to quantitative approaches, and a combination of these two in an interdisciplinary manner is becoming a new research trend. By reviewing and prospecting the relevant literature, this study not only makes a unique contribution to the tourism resource evaluation of IAHS, but also helps to enrich the relevant evaluation theories and further promote the sustainable development of heritage tourism from theoretical and methodological perspectives.

The Origin and Vision of National Cultural Park Management Policy in China

Research on the evolution of cultural policy is the key in the field of public policy study, and it is also an important means to solve the problems that have emerged in cultural heritage management. The National Cultural Park is an innovative cultural heritage protection system proposed by Chinese leaders within the context of national rejuvenation and building a culturally-strong country campaign. From the perspective of system evolution theory, this paper systematically sorts out the ideas behind international heritage management and the evolutionary process of the Cultural Relics Protection Unit system, in an effort to explore the origin, innovation and vision of the National Cultural Park System. A review of the international heritage documents revealed that the principle of heritage protection has developed from “authenticity” to “integrity”, and the focus of the protection object has also changed from “monism” to “diversity”, which provided a theoretical background for the burgeoning National Cultural Park. The Cultural Relics Protection Unit system has been promoted as the most crucial cultural heritage management system in China. Therefore, this study sheds light on the evolution and limitations of the system that lays a practical foundation for the National Cultural Park System. There have been three stages in the history of China's National Cultural Relics Protection Unit, namely, the creation of the system (1956–1965), the survival crisis of the system (1966–1977), and the rebirth and development of the system (1978 to the present), in which the main driving concepts of China′s cultural heritage management have been sequentially elucidated as simple protectionism, tolerant conservatism and comprehensive developmentalism, respectively. Since the establishment of China's Cultural Relics Protection Unit system, tremendous progress has been made not only in the enlightenment of the public's mindset and but also in the development of system and culture. However, the changes in the institutional environment gradually exposed its limitations regarding cultural relic management and value expression. The National Cultural Park System is the fruit created by the internal contradictions of the cultural heritage system itself and the evolution of heritage theory. Its biggest innovation lies in the two core connotations of “integrated protection” and “integrated development”. In the future, as the National Cultural Park management system matures, a Chinese cultural heritage management system will take shape in which the National Cultural Parks become dominant and various cultural resources are utilized. Finally, the National Cultural Park will become a symbol of Chinese culture and will be internalized into the common belief system of the Chinese nation.

Does Agroforestry Correlate with the Sustainability of Agricultural Landscapes? Evidence from China’s Nationally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems

Compared with industrial monoculture, agroforestry has been perceived as a more sustainable approach to landscape management that provides various landscape-specific benefits. However, little is known about agroforestry’s influence on the comprehensive sustainability of agricultural landscapes. This study focused on the importance of agroforestry and its influence on landscape sustainability, using 118 China National Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (China-NIAHS) as cases. In each China-NIAHS, we evaluated the importance of agroforestry and the landscape’s comprehensive sustainability and explored their correlation. The findings indicate that agroforestry is important in most China-NIAHS. Agroforestry’s importance is strongly correlated with most sustainability indicators, including biodiversity, income diversity, resource utilization, hydrogeological preservation, and water regulation. Based on the findings, we discuss the role of agroforestry in promoting sustainability and provide suggestions for sustainable management and policymaking for agricultural landscapes on a national scale.

Promoting conservation or change? The UNESCO label of world heritage (re)shaping urban morphology in the Old Town of Lijiang, China

The UNESCO label of World Heritage can attract a high number of tourists to heritage properties for their Outstanding Universal Values (OUV). Although international studies have demonstrated the World Heritage system can contribute to stimulating cultural tourism and boosting the local economy, how this heritage-led development process promotes urban conservation and morphological changes in cities is yet to be explored adequately. This paper aims to explore the urban morphology of a historic Chinese city after its inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List, taking the Old Town of Lijiang as case. The methods of spatial plan analysis and discourse analysis are used to analyse the data. The research findings have demonstrated that, theoretically, the Conzenian approach of urban morphology can be an effective framework for World Heritage OUV-monitoring. Methodologically, the analysis of spatial plans and multi-stakeholder interviews can reveal local urban morphology from macro to micro levels. Case-specifically in Lijiang, urban physical characteristics and building structures have been well maintained while traditional social fabric and neighbourhood networks have almost vanished. This research has incorporated the urban morphology approach into (world) heritage management in China, as well as worldwide, in order to maintain the balance between urban conservation and economic growth.

Periodic Reporting under the World Heritage Convention: Futures and Possible Responses to Loss

ABSTRACT Periodic reporting begins with an information gathering exercise about the application of the UNESCO World Heritage Convention at national and property levels. A State Party fills a questionnaire, consisting of two sections, to complete this exercise. The questionnaire does not deal with loss despite its attention to current and potential negative factors, such as climate change. However, it can be revised during a ‘reflection period’ before a new cycle of periodic reporting starts. This article proposes adding future-oriented questions to the next (fourth) cycle questionnaire in order for actors in the World Heritage system to have constructive discussions on futures and possible responses to loss. This proposal may improve links with reactive monitoring to optimise the use of financial and technical resources, and help the World Heritage Committee resolve policy issues raised by climate change. The article engages with scholarly literature on future-thinking, climate change, and heritage loss nonetheless and suggests that dealing with loss may be facilitated if World Heritage requirements are rethought, notably if integrity is understood as a dynamic manifestation of changes and continuities over time, and if Outstanding Universal Value is understood as an evolving value that can be renewed or redefined.

The Database Construction of Intangible Cultural Heritage Based on Artificial Intelligence

At present, the protection of material cultural heritage is spread all over the world, but the protection of intangible cultural heritage is relatively backward. With the development of information technology, database technology provides a new retrieval method. Therefore, based on database technology, this paper constructs the database system of intangible cultural heritage, where MySQL is used as the system database, Struts 2 framework is selected in MVC to realize the separation of business logic and data display, and retrieval and query are realized through Lucene. In addition, the system takes Mongolian stringed instruments as the carrier, constructs the metadata framework, and forms the database structure. Moreover, the system is divided into six functional modules and the front and back functions of the system are managed. Finally, the system function test and performance test are carried out. The test results show that the system has good functionality, which is helpful to realize the effective protection of intangible cultural heritage.

Agricultural Heritage: Contrasting National and International Programs in Brazil and Italy

Agricultural systems comprise an interdisciplinary field that studies the complex dimensions of agriculture. They should not be characterized only by their agricultural value, as they are part of several social, cultural, geological, and historical domains. We carried out quantitative and qualitative research to present and compare the current state of agricultural heritage programs and their development in Brazil and Italy, contrasting with the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). To this end, the history and the extension of these programs and sites were recovered. Moreover, the agricultural landscape diversity, the development of the regions, research and outreach, along with the communities, entities and government bodies involved were identified. Through a combination and quality of technical assessment and communities’ description, the analyzed agricultural heritage programs prove to be an endless source of useful information to the definition of policies aimed at rural areas, in addition to serving as a monitoring tool for many issues regarding biocultural diversity in landscape. Moreover, it shows where there is room for improvement while the countries are committed to engaging in national policies and entities on the promotion of agricultural heritage programs as major steps for investing in the “greening” of agricultural policies at different levels.

Spatial aggregation of herbivores and predators enhances tri‐trophic cascades in paddy fields: Rice monoculture versus rice‐fish co‐culture

Abstract Rice‐fish co‐culture system has a history of more than 2,000 years in Asia and has been recognized as one of FAO's Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS). To date, few studies have explored rice‐fish co‐culture effects on the relationship between predator–prey aggregations and associated tri‐trophic cascades of predatory spiders, insect herbivores and rice. Indeed, predators have been shown to increase prey spatial aggregation but it is still not clear how fish (tertiary consumers) affect aggregations and interactions of their prey on multiple trophic levels (i.e. predatory spiders and rice insect herbivores). Here, we conducted a 2‐year experiment to measure the abundance and distribution of herbivores (leafrollers, stemborers and planthoppers) and their predators (spiders) along with rice yield in rice‐fish co‐culture versus monoculture‐rice (fish free) systems in eastern China. We analysed spatial aggregations of herbivores and predators using geostatistics and used correlations to examine tri‐trophic interactions. Results showed that co‐culture enhanced predatory spider and herbivore spatial aggregations, which in turn increased biocontrol of herbivores by predators, decreased herbivore damage and increased rice productivity. Synthesis and applications. Fish presence increased spatial aggregation of two different trophic levels, which enhanced a tri‐trophic cascade of predatory spiders, insect herbivores and rice in co‐culture systems. Our approach linking spatial aggregations of herbivores and predators with trophic cascades can be applied to study trophic interactions in other ecosystems. Incorporating fish into monoculture paddy fields can increase both natural pest control by predatory spiders and crop productivity via aggregation, and thus increase multiple ecosystem services.

Dynamic Conservation in Risk Society: A Case Study of COVID-19 Pandemic Risk in Kashan Qanat Irrigated Agriculture.

In the present age, the world agricultural heritage can inspire agroecology and sustainable agriculture. But various risks have threatened, eroded and forgotten this heritage, so dynamic conservation of this heritage is essential. In this study, “Qanat Irrigated Agricultural Heritage Systems, Kashan, Iran” which has been registered worldwide in the face of corona pandemic risks has been selected as a case study. In this qualitative research, in addition to field observations and documentary studies, 25 in-depth interviews and 39 semi-structured interviews with experts and key informants was done and grounded theory and content analysis have been used. In the process of interviews and analyzes based on “risk society theory”, risks and wicked problems and related solutions have been identified and finally based on cultural theory, “clumsy solution space” has been summarized and presented for dynamic conservation. Based on the findings of this study, paying attention to a kind of reward for ecosystem services, developing online sales of agricultural products in rural areas of Kashan and also creating twinning with similar areas can help solve wicked problems. Also, paying more attention to the regulations for the protection of qanats, as well as the laws for home business insurance, can strengthen sustainable development in this rural area. Due to the wide range of different dimensions of agricultural heritage, it is suggested that in future research, clumsy solution spaces for each of these dimensions be created and developed separately.