GIAHS/NIAHS Conservation
and Rural Revitalization

Prof. Dr. Min Qingwen
CAS-IGSNRR-CNACH

• Rural Revitalization: A GlobalIssue• GIAHS/NIAHS: “Gene Banks” forRural Revitalization• GIAHS/NIAHS Sites: Best
Demonstration Regions for Rural
Revitalization Strategy

China’s urbanization• It is well known that the widening gap
between urban and rural areas and thedecline of rural areas are the realities together
with China's rapid development.

A sharp contrast• With the development of industrialization andurbanization, the urban expansion and ruraldecline perform at the same time.

Current status of countryside• Inner Decaying Village.
• left-behind children, the elderly and stayingwomen.

A global challenge• In fact, not only in China, the world also faces
the challenges.

Experiences from Japan• Rural revitalization campaign in 1960s• New village movement in the late 1970s

China’s“Rural Revitalization
Strategy”• On October 18th, 2017, Xi Jinping put forward the“Rural Revitalization Strategy”.
• On December 29th, 2017, the Central Conference on
Rural Work clarified the objectives, tasks andtimetables.
• On March 8th, 2018, Xi further summarized "Five
Revitalization Approaches” including industrial, talent,cultural, ecological, and organizational revitalizations.

• Rural Revitalization: A GlobalIssue• GIAHS/NIAHS: “Gene Banks” forRural Revitalization• GIAHS/NIAHS Sites: Best
Demonstration Regions for Rural
Revitalization Strategy

GIAHS/NIAHS: A new kind of “Heritage”• In 2002, FAO launched the GIAHS initiative.
• In 2012, China’s MOA launched China-NIAHS
program.

China’s GIAHS sites

2012

2010

2005

2011

2014

2013

2018

2017

GIAHS: Heritage for the future
Definition :Remarkable Land Use Systems and landscapes which are rich inbiological diversity evolving from the ingenious and dynamic
adaptation of a community/population to its environment and theneeds and aspirations for sustainable development (FAO, 2002)• Integrated Agricultural, Forestry, Livestock and Fishery systems;• Result of co-adaptation and co-evolution of plants, animals, humans
and landscape under specific environmental circumstances;• Managed through highly adapted social and cultural practices andinstitutions;• Provide food and livelihood security and social, cultural andecosystem services;• Important at local, national and global levels; and• They are under threat.

Features of GIAHS/NIAHS• Living• Adaptive• Complex• Strategic• Multi-functional• Endangered

biologic, technological, and cultural "genes"Biologic "genes“ for modern agriculturaldevelopment
Crop
Rice

Varieties
Wuyuanhan Rice
Yehele Rice
Traditional Glutinous Rice

Technological "genes“ for ecoagricultural development

5045

RM
RF: y = 0.3011x + 20.179

Rice yield stability (S)

40

RF

2

R = 0.0134, P>0.05

3530
252015

RM: y = 0.7202x + 9.2019

10R2 = 0.5388, P<0.05

5005101520

Pesticides (a.i., kg ha-1)

253035Cultural "genes“ for sustainable ruraldevelopment

• Rural Revitalization: A GlobalIssue• GIAHS/NIAHS: “Gene Banks” forRural Revitalization• GIAHS/NIAHS Sites: Best
Demonstration Regions for RuralRevitalization Strategy

GIAHS/NIAHS sites are the mostneeded for revitalization• Weak infrastructure and backward
economic development;• fragile ecosystems and abundantbiological resources;• abundant traditional knowledge
and comprehensive technicalsystem;• abundant cultural resources andbeautiful rural landscapes; and• large population whereas ashortage of talent resource.

How to achieve rural revitalization?

Industrial revitalization

Bio-resource industry
Processingindustry

Leisure agriculture& rural tourism

Agriculture
Food industry

Cultural industry

Talent revitalization• Cooperative leader: Guo Wuliu• Returned college student: Liu
Haiqing• Returned overseas Chinese: Jin
YuepinCulturalrevitalization

Ecological revitalization

Organizationalrevitalization

• A Chinese proverb: Consider the past and yourshall know the future. （温故而知新）• Learn from the past for the future.
• We could contribute our wisdom to thesustainable agriculture and rural revitalizationof the world through GIAHS/NIAHS approaches.

Thank You for Your Attention