World s Leading Tourism Geographer Investigated the Symbiotic System of Rice and Fish in Qingtian

Together with a party and government delegation from Honghe Prefecture, Yunnan Province, Professor Verbeke, an internationally well-known tourism geographer, came to Qingtian for a field investigation on the protection and exploitation of the symbiotic system of rice and fish in Qingtian.

It is learned that the Chinese Academy of Sciences invited Professor Verbeke to come to China this time mainly to make an on-the-spot investigation and conduct cooperative studies in Qingtian County of Zhejiang Province and Honghe Prefecture of Yunnan Province, for the purpose of better promoting the protection of agricultural heritage, actively exploring effective ways of developing tourism in places with an agricultural heritage, and borrowing the advanced experience in heritage protection and tourism development from foreign countries.

Hani terraced rice paddies of Honghe Prefecture, Yunnan, was listed as one of the second batch of important global agricultural cultural heritages (GIAHS)by The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (UNFAO) in 2000 for pilot protection. This time the party and government delegation of Honghe Prefecture came to visit the global important agricultural cultural heritage site in Longxian Village of Fangshan township, with the intent of sharing our experience in protection management and agricultural product development related with the site.

In Longxian Village, the delegation walked along the paths across rice paddies, observing the rice-fish symbiotic system of Longxian Village and listening to introduction to such aspects like the matters needing attention, the basic infrastructure and ways of breeding fish. They affirmed local villagers practice of breeding fish in all the spaces available. Meanwhile, they expressed their delight when they learned the positive changes in the ideas, living habits, agricultural efficiency and economic level of the local people during the 6 years after the symbiotic system of rice and fish was listed as a global important agricultural cultural heritage.