It is urgent to strengthen the protection of agricultural cultural heritage in China.

Since 2002, with the joint promotion of international organizations such as the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and many countries, agricultural cultural heritage has been gradually known by people. Globally, the excavation and protection of agricultural cultural heritage has been paid attention to by many governments, research institutions, community residents and other related parties.

The connotation and characteristics of Agricultural Cultural Heritage

According to the definition of FAO, the global important agricultural cultural heritage refers to the unique land use system and agricultural landscape formed by the long-term co-evolution and dynamic adaptation of the countryside and its environment. This system and landscape is rich in biodiversity, and can meet the needs of local social, economic and cultural development, and is conducive to promoting regional sustainable development. Agricultural cultural heritage has the characteristics of activity, adaptability, complex, strategic, versatile, endangered and so on.

China has a long and splendid agricultural civilization, coupled with the great differences between nature and humanities between regions, has created an important agricultural cultural heritage with a wide variety, obvious characteristics and a high degree of unity of economic and ecological values. these heritages contain the philosophical thought of the unity of man and nature, with high historical and cultural value and rich connotation of ecological civilization.

The Protection of Agricultural Cultural Heritage and the Development of Agriculture, Countryside and Farmers

(1) it is conducive to inheriting agricultural civilization and expanding agricultural functions. Chinese traditional agriculture contains the simple ecological views and values of resource protection and recycling, mutual growth among organisms, and harmony between man and nature. The production skills and management knowledge accumulated by traditional agriculture still have application value in the development of modern agriculture.

(2) it is conducive to the protection of rural ecology and the construction of beautiful villages. Jiaxian County, Shaanxi Province, which is located in the hinterland of the Loess Plateau, has little drought and fragile ecology. Jujube is not only an important source of livelihood for local farmers, but also plays an important role in ecological protection. Honghe Hani terraces in Yunnan have been cultivated for more than 1300 years. They are known as "Wonderland on Earth and Wonders of the World".

(3) it is conducive to improving farmers' livelihood and doubling their income. The protection of agricultural cultural heritage emphasizes the principle of "multi-party participation and benefit sharing". According to the exploration and practice of many heritage sites, the appropriate development of tourism is an effective way to protect agricultural cultural heritage and plays an important role in promoting local social and economic development.

Progress in the Protection of Agricultural Cultural Heritage in China

Since the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations launched the "Global important Agricultural Cultural Heritage" (GIAHS) campaign in 2002, the Chinese government has taken the lead in responding positively and declared a number of agricultural cultural heritages with characteristics from the starting point of "Qingtian Rice-Fish Symbiosis system". By 2014, a total of 11 agricultural cultural heritages have been selected in China, which is the country with the largest number of agricultural cultural heritages.

In 2012, the Ministry of Agriculture launched the excavation of China's important agricultural cultural heritage. Up to now, 39 traditional agricultural systems, including Xuanhua traditional vineyard in Hebei Province and Cuizhuang Gudong Jujube Garden in Tianjin Binhai, have been selected as China's important agricultural cultural heritage. In addition, the Ministry of Agriculture established an expert committee on agricultural cultural heritage and issued the measures for the Administration of China's Global important Agricultural Cultural Heritage (draft for soliciting opinions) and the measures for the Administration of China's important Agricultural Cultural Heritage (for trial implementation). The excavation and management of China's agricultural cultural heritage is in the forefront of the world.

Suggestions on strengthening the Protection of Agricultural Cultural Heritage

Agricultural cultural heritage is a new concept, and the related excavation, protection and management work is still in its infancy and exploration stage. At present, it is necessary to improve the management system, strengthen system construction, explore ways of protection, and strengthen scientific research.

First, strengthen the management of agricultural cultural heritage. The management of agricultural cultural heritage should have top-level design, improve the management methods of agricultural cultural heritage, and improve the management institutions at all levels of the country, province, heritage site and so on. To organize and compile the Plan for the Protection and Development of China's important Agricultural Cultural Heritage. The management of agricultural cultural heritage involves many departments, and the projects and resources of relevant departments should be integrated to form a joint management force.

The second is to form a long-term mechanism of capital investment. Give full play to the leading role of central and local governments at all levels in the protection of agricultural cultural heritage, especially agricultural cultural heritage sites in economically underdeveloped areas, and strengthen government financial support. Strengthen the ecological protection of heritage sites, improve agricultural infrastructure, support heritage sites to develop ecological products, and develop eco-tourism. In addition, in view of the important service functions of agricultural cultural heritage sites in maintaining regional ecological balance, improving farmland environment and protecting biodiversity, it is necessary to explore a variety of compensation methods, such as funds, technology, policies, projects and so on. to make up for the increased cost or reduced output caused by farmers' adoption of traditional agricultural production methods, and promote the steady improvement of regional ecosystem services.

The third is to explore multiple ways of protection and development. The protection of agricultural cultural heritage is not frozen preservation to limit regional economic development, but emphasizes dynamic protection and adaptive management in planning and development. Effective protection of important germplasm resources, traditional production techniques, important agricultural landscapes and ancient villages. Under the premise of scientific planning, explore a variety of ways of protection and development, so that more farmers can enjoy the fruits of development. Support farmers in heritage sites to develop green, organic and other ecological agricultural products, appropriately develop eco-tourism, develop tourism routes with agricultural cultural heritage as the theme, and farm music with traditional production skills experience and product taste as the theme.

Fourth, strengthen relevant scientific research work. Systematically summarize the traditional agricultural development model of heritage sites, and deeply excavate the knowledge and experience of heritage sites in ecological protection, resource utilization, agricultural management and so on. Comprehensive use of ecology, economics, management, archaeology and other disciplines to carry out cross-research. Focus on the research on the structure and function of the ecosystem of agricultural cultural heritage sites, as well as the mechanism of biodiversity maintenance and adaptation to climate change, and explore ways for the protection and development of agricultural cultural heritage as well as relevant management systems and policy measures.