Losing a World Heritage Site
Filipinos refer to the rice terraces in Banaue as the eighth wonder of the world. The site – the most extensive network of terraced rice paddies in Asia – failed to make it to the new Seven Wonders of the World, officially proclaimed recently. But the rice terraces are in the list of World Heritage Sites drawn up by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.Now even that classification may be withdrawn. A recent report said Unesco may take the Banaue rice terraces out of its list of World Heritage Sites if the rice paddies continue to deteriorate. Unesco also noted the presence of structures that are not supposed to be within the heritage site and the apparent lack of a sustainable tourism program.
Local officials in Ifugao province have downplayed the possible loss of its Unesco classification. But the possible withdrawal of the classification cannot be taken lightly. In recent years other groups have expressed concern over the deterioration of the Banaue rice terraces. Though the site remains one of the country’s top tourist destinations, there has been little improvement in the tourism infrastructure in the area, from the two roads leading to the site to the accommodations and telecommunications facilities.
This could be the terraces caretakers’ idea of preserving the natural state of the site. But the terraces themselves are the ones that should be preserved; the surrounding areas can use some upgrading. The terraces themselves, however, are deteriorating. An infestation of giant worms eroded the terraces. Because of the low yield of the paddies and the lack of support to market the fragrant mountain rice, young Ifugaos were reported to be abandoning their farms to seek livelihood opportunities elsewhere.
In other countries, the rice harvested from a World Heritage Site would have been marketed worldwide as a gourmet variety at premium prices. The profits from tilling the terraced fields plus the tourism revenue would have guaranteed that the next generations of Ifugaos would have a stake in preserving their precious environment. It is not yet too late to do this in a site that is a source of national pride.
