EDITORIAL – An endangered national treasure

Long before European colonizers arrived in Southeast Asia, residents of the region were already carving out terraces planted to rice. The most extensive of the terraces were the ones in what we now know as the Cordillera mountain range. The majestic rice terraces have endured for centuries, and to this day remain among the most popular tourist destinations in the Philippines. The brown mountain rice produced in the terraced paddies is among the most prized in the country.

Unless the government moves quickly, however, there may soon be little left of the terraces except patches of dry land with eroded walls. Years ago Cordillera residents noticed that giant worms were gnawing away at the terrace walls. Upland forests are also being depleted, aggravating soil erosion and inadequate irrigation. As a result, rice production has dropped despite government efforts to introduce high-yielding rice varieties and encourage harvest twice a year.

The poor earnings from farming have driven residents to the cities, or to jobs in the community that pay better such as professional driving and tourism-related work. With fewer young people to work the farms, paddies are lying fallow. Paddies are also being reclaimed and converted into residential areas. Eight years ago the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization declared the Banaue rice terraces a World Heritage Site. The terraces have since been added to Unesco’s list of endangered World Heritage sites.

The alert has helped galvanize efforts to conserve the terraces. The best way of preserving this national trea-sure is by ensuring the viability of the rice paddies. Higher rice yields combined with marketing support for farmers can discourage residents from leaving their homes for better livelihood opportunities elsewhere.

The government can encourage the creation of a farmers’ cooperative and assist members in promoting their product, which is one of the best varieties of mountain rice. The government can also train residents to make rice byproducts such as wine and tealeaves. Efforts to conserve the terraces can be incorporated into ecotourism packages for Banaue. Saving the terraces will involve making the residents cherish and nurture the treasure in their midst. They will need every help they can get.