Ifugao Rice Terrace Assessment (IRTA)

Overview

The Ifugao Rice Terraces Assessment aimed to assess the state of the Ifugao Rice Terraces (IRT) providing a scientific base to respond to the conservation and sustainable management of its landscapes. This is in response to the unorganised efforts among the government institutions, academics, NGOs and communities in attempting to address issues of biodiversity loss, upkeep of ecosystem services and revitalisation of indigenous knowledge for its protection and preservation. It intended to serve as basis for policymakers and decision-makers to carry out intervention in formulating legislative and executive measures and conservation plans for the IRT as a socio-ecological production landscape.

The IRT have been appointed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site and by the UN-FAO as a GIAHS site and they include the municipalities of Banaue, Hungduan, Kiangan, and Mayoyao of Ifugao Province. The assessment included an examination of the conditions and trends of the terraces’ farmland ecosystem, forest ecosystem, and biodiversity; the drivers (direct and indirect) of change; and the responses to change.

Key achievements

The most important achievement of the project is the conception of a blueprint on the state of the IRT system that can be utilised by development planners, policymakers, the education sector and local communities as a basis for the IRT’s sustainable development and management.

Key findings show that the physical features of the IRT are still visible. The farmland ecosystem, forest ecosystem and biodiversity are still rich but are confronted by economic, environmental, and social issues which are barriers to sustaining them. Urbanisation, commercial or modern farming methods, and the changing societal values are threats to the sustainable management and development of the terraces.

Lessons

• SEPLS assessment requires a wide and willing network of scholars, experts, ILK holders, politicians, academics, and community members. Assessment should be conducted when a broad network has already been established so as to be able to straightforwardly conduct activities.
• Maximising digital resources and platforms in SEPLS assessment are significant in data gathering and processing; consultation, validation, and evaluation; and publication, circulation, and use.
• Contingency planning for activity mobilization must be properly carried out.