The Philippine Rice Terraces

For 2,000 years, the high rice fields of the Ifugao have followed the contours of the mountains. The fruit of knowledge handed down from one generation to the next, and the expression of sacred traditions and a delicate social balance, they have helped to create a landscape of great beauty that expresses the harmony between humankind and the environment. ( Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras - UNESCO World Heritage Centre )

The Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras are located in one of the northern most islands in the Philippines, Luzon. The terraces themselves are located within a 100 mile radius of the black pin marker. There are five locations that are considered to be UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

The Rice Terraces were inscripted in 1995 with the location of Ifugao Province, Cordillera Region, Luzon Island

For the Rice Terraces there are several locations, to give some context as we take a closer look, the pink outline represents province borders of the Philippines. The Teal lines represent municipality boundaries, and the white circles are the specific locations of the terraces themselves. The terraces with titles are the honored UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Other white circles represent rice terraces in the surrounding context of the Ifugao Province.

*Disclaimer The Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras did not have a buffer zone map*

This site is extremely affected by topography and wetland systems as it is a system of terraces. The sites are carved into the Cordillera mountains creating a series of stepped fields, following the natural contours of the landscapes.

The terraces are supported by an irrigation system that is supplied by water from surrounding rivers and streams. The Chico River is one of the more major rivers int the region that supports the terraces. Water is carefully managed through a system of bamboo pipes and canals. However, the rice is not the only important feature to take care, the soils are extremely important to conserve and prevent erosion.

The surrounding regions have very similar characteristics as you can see forests and high altitudes all around. It is very clear that the terraces have been thoughtfully taken care of and passed on generation to generation.

It is unknown the exact dates of the beginnings of the Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras however we can see dates back to over 2,000 years ago. (WHL, 2018) The terraces were just beginning during pre-colonial Philippines time and have been continued to be upkept and passed on generation to generation. It is important to note that only 5 larger locations are considered to be UNESCO World Heritage sites. All throughout the island of Luzon rice terraces can be spotted however these are the most impressive and intact.

These terraces have played a central role in the cooperative lifestyle of Ifugao being that it is not a single person's efforts. The terraces consist of thousands of generations of families all working together to pass on the technology and skills that were once created 2 millennia ago. The Rice Terraces continue to not only be a symbol of human ingenuity but additional living proof of sustainable living and how to adapt to climate changes and other mitigations. (WHL, 2018)

 Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras - UNESCO World Heritage Centre 

Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras