20.11.2013

The guardians of the terraced landscapes and its biodiversity, the cultural and natural diversity which are treasures for the present and future of humankind.

Cusco, Peru - 19 to 22 May 2014

First Conference in Yunnan, China in November 2010

The prefectural government of the Red River prefecture convened and funded the first Conference on Terraced Landscapes in Mengzi with more than 200 participants. Prof. Shi Junchao led the organising team and the facilitators from Honghe University to run 5 parallel workshops and 1 Farmer Forum. The topics dealt with History and Culture of Terraces, Impact of Tourism on Terraces, Organic Production on Terraces, Management of World Heritage Sites, and Policies and regulations affecting Terraced Landscapes and Cultures.
The participants of the Conference gathered and formed the International Terraced Landscapes Alliance (ITLA), which is coordinated by Timmi Tillmann, affiliated with the Right Livelihood College at USM in Malaysia. Until now more than 100 professionals and activists are affiliated with ITLA from more than 20 countries. The website www.alpter.net from Italy is hosting until now the communications of ITLA under administration of Luca Lodatti.

Second World Conference in Peru in May 2014

Since 2010 the hosts (John Earls from Catholic University, Lima and Hilda Araujo from CITPA) of the next Conference in Peru has united a team of 20 organizers and about 15 supporting institutions from Peru. With the cooperation by Maruja Salas and Timmi Tillmann from ITLA the team has agreed to organize the next World Conference in May 2014 in Cusco, in the Southern Andes of Peru. The aim is to provide a forum for researchers, activists and terrace farmers from terraced landscapes in the world to discuss and agree upon actions to protect, preserve and promote terraced landscapes in the world.

Objectives of the Conference

• Present showcases of the wealth of knowledge, farmers wisdom and practices of terraced landscapes and cultures (especially from Peru)
• Identify and understand the state of the art of terraces in the world with a multidisciplinary, participatory and historic approach and acknowledge the validity and diversity of local knowledge, management skills and livelihoods of traditional terrace societies and of the biodiversity produced by the “guardians” of terraced landscapes
• Organize a Farmer Forum to hear the voices and exchange experiences from terrace-farmers and learn about the visions and perspectives of the rural communities from different countries, to show and advocate the importance of terraced landscapes and their cultures for the future of humanity.
• Analyze the political, social and economic barriers and propose alternative action to promote terraced landscapes and protect the rights to land, water, biodiversity, livelihood and culture of the terrace communities (and their members)
• Propose and start organizing plans of actions in defense of the terraced landscapes, biodiversity and small farmers agriculture
• Strengthen an intergenerational international movement to defend and promote terraced landscapes
• Define the future development of ITLA, promote specific country strategies and determine the hosts, country and dates for the Third World Conference (probably 2016 in Italy, and 2019 in Ifugao, Philippines)

Participants

We invite to join the Second World Conference and reach a total group of 200 participants, with at least 50 international delegates, farmers and activists, researchers and decision makers, “guardians” of terraces and their biodiversity, technicians and facilitators of local development processes from regions with terraced landscapes, as well as officials of international organizations,

The more than 30 organizers and supporters of the World Conference include Universities, Research Centers, young academics, NGOs, national and local government agencies, networks and farmer communities from Peru.

Preparatory process in each country or region

For Peru we have proposed and are organizing the following preparatory actions and steps:

• The Inventory of terraced landscapes in Peru.
• Update a comprehensive Bibliography about terraces and culture of in Peru.
• Regional workshops with farmers, activists and researchers in different parts of Peru.
• Case studies about terraced landscapes, communities and special regions
• Elaboration of participatory videos and documentaries about terraced landscapes, use (Nature and Culture).
• Field course in Chivay, Colca Valley, Arequipa in October of 2013 to analyses the topics of the World Conference in one of the most meaningful terraced landscapes in Peru.
• Short Fieldtrips near Lima, Ayacucho, Cusco, Puno
• National workshop in early 2014 to promote terraced landscapes to the Peruvian government and the public, with an exhibition of terrace products and photographies and videos.
• The Italian section has organized a national Encounter in Italy from 3 to 4 of May 2013 with the participation of member from other European countries (Spain, France, Austria, Slovenia).
• ITLA will elaborate a compilation of outstanding essays and reports from all over the world to be distributed as a virtual book on Terraced Landscapes.

All international sections are asked to develop similar preparatory activities in their countries in terraced landscapes areas, with the local guardians.

Format of the World Conference

13 to 18 of May 2014

Field trips in parallel groups to 4 different regions in parallel groups (Lima, Central Andes – Ayacucho – Apurimac, South – Arequipa, Puno, and South East – Cusco). Initial workshop of 1 day in Lima on May 13th to form teams and agree on the tasks for the field teams. Final workshop in Cusco on the 18th to elaborate a presentation about field trip to the Conference.

19 - 22 of May 2014

Second World Conference combining Plenaries offering presentations by Farmers, Researchers and Activists as inputs to thematic workshops.
We propose 4 steps for the thematic workshops: 1. focus on the themes, 2. analyze issues, cases and experiences, 3. develop a vision of the future for terraced landscapes and finally 4. agree upon action plan and starting to implement it with shared responsibilities.

During the World Conference there are parallel events: Farmer Forum, Video and Film Festival, Exhibition of Terraced Landscapes Products, Networking of Participants for example Assembly of ITLA members. Public presentation of results in Cusco on last day

Themes of the Conference

1.History and Cultures of terraced landscapes

The Neolithic revolution produced a diversity of agricultural systems like terraced landscapes, which integrated the relation between humans and nature in a harmonious and sustainable way. Especially the terraced landscapes were conceived by societies in different parts of the world and they understood the mountains as a source for life with a diversity of food crops and not as an obstacle for their survival. The future of the terraces is endangered by globalization and development technologies which uniformise agricultural societies neglecting the balance between soil, water, climate and the production of food which nurture the cultural diversity in our world.
The main question is what can we learn from the history of diverse cultures in creating and nurturing terraced landscapes for the benefit of the people and how can we preserve the wisdom of our ancestors, who have constructed and preserved the terraced landscapes for the benefit of humankind.
(John Earls, Angela Mendoza, Erika Yensen)

2.Water, Territory and Climate Change

The access to water and its uses are fundamental to manage the terraces and to achieve the diversity of food crops. The territory – terraced landscape – has been domesticated by many different ethnic groups and ancient societies according to the conditions they encountered: the climate, the soils, the form of the mountain would allow an integral agricultural systems by using and adapting the local biodiversity. This resulted in impressive hydraulic systems and also artistic landscape which have allowed the survival and self-sufficiency of many generations of rural mountain societies.
This working group will analyse the originality of these agricultural systems and the threats arising from modernization and globalization, like migration of the rural population into the cities, plains and mining industry, the pollution of water sources by mines, the expropriation of water sources by users from different sectors (mines, irrigation schemes in the plains, cities), uses of agrochemicals polluting the water, climate changes affecting local traditions and practices. We will look into the potential of the local hydraulic systems, how to regain their strength and utility for food production and into the needed action to reinforce terraced landscapes and their guardians. The exchange of experiences will provide the insights for an international cooperation and alliance in favour of the water users and of the definition of technical, social and legal measures defending the water for the terraced landscapes.
(Mourik Bueno de Mezquita, Carmen Felipe Morales, Leoncio Rodríguez, Antonio Lambruschini, Andrés Alencastre, Braulio La Torre, CONDESAN, ABA, Rosalía Castro, Amelia Corzo)

3.Construction and Maintenance of Terraces

This working group will exchange their experiences of constructing, renovating and maintaining terraces, often constructed with stones, other terraces just with clay walls to retain the water of the paddy fields in the mountain slopes. There are thousands of different construction technologies, diversity of irrigation or drainage channels, different sizes and heights according to the slopes and the tradition, caves to protect from rain and sun or store the working tools or crops.
This working group is for constructors, architects, archaeologists, researchers para discuss about ways of constructing and reconstructing abandoned terraces. We expect that some construction schools show their work and that we promote training courses for terrace constructors close to the terraced landscapes. We will link also with the Dry Stone Association in Europe who have a long experience of exchanges of practitioners.
What is needed to form and continue the wisdom of the elder constructors for the continuous use and promotion of terraces for food production.
(Ann Kendall, Douglas Walsh)

4.Traditional indigenous knowledge about agro-biodiversity of agricultural terraces

The most outstanding contribution and benefit of terraced landscapes is the creation of micro-climates in mountain regions, which allowed to domesticate new food crops in the history of agriculture and produce abundant food crops thanks to smooth technologies of combining soil, water, plants, climate in an optimum way.
How is the process of domestication still exist in terraced landscapes, which maintain their technologies and production? How the wisdom of the local peasant cultures still exists or has been affected or fragmented by modernization of the societies? Is it possible to retrieve the traditional knowledge for the future preservation and promotion of terraces and for the recovery of abandoned terraced areas?
The wisdom of the elders and practitioners of the terraces is one of the basic elements to face the climate change and to overcome the food crisis. Understanding and recuperating the importance of terraces will add an innovative and creative social and cultural force to an alternative agriculture for the benefit of rural and also urban people.
(Dora Velasquez, Mario Tapia, IDMA, Angela Mendoza)

5.Food Sovereignty (Local seeds and Organic Farming)
Terraces are very productive compared to slope agriculture thanks to a better use of soil, organic matter and water – at the same time terraced landscapes are more sustainable if properly maintained.
This group will look into the importance of terraced landscapes to protect and promote local seeds of food crops, which otherwise get easily lost. Terraces are used and maintained by local communities and peasant families since ancient times and will survive in their hands, if they can produce healthy and organic food with fertile soils for local consumption.
How do we support and promote peasant food production defending local seeds and food crops for the benefit of the public good.
(Maruja Salas, Rosalía Castro)

6.The social organization of mountain people as guardians of terraces and domesticators of plants and animals in diverse agro-ecological zones

Without appropriate forms of social organization it is impossible to understand the domestication of a diversity of plants and landscapes. We also cannot imagine agro-ecological zones without social cooperation which have created extraordinary niches for crops, surplus of production to feed not only the local population but also states and bureaucrats, by constructing and increasing terraced slopes in mountain areas.
In the Andes there are many studies, which show the richness of peasant organisations and management of natural resources, which we want to compare with the social management of terraces in Africa, Asia and Europe. This richness and the capabilities of social organisations of ethnic groups around the world is under threat by modernisation processes, which do not value small producers and rural communities in the world, but favour big mines, migration to the cities and industries prioritising economic growth and not human development.
(Hilda Araujo, Carlos Amat y León, Oscar Toro, Rosalía Castro)

7.Governance of terraced landscapes and human development. Policies - State - Laws and Customary Laws

We offer a forum to analyse the impact of state policies on mountain regions and specifically on terraced landscapes and the rural population. Often the achievements of rural societies and local ethnic groups are not recognised, who are the guardians to create, maintain and take care of the terraces. The potential of the terraces as contribution to food sovereignty has not been seen, as these areas are understood as barriers to development and to mechanization of agriculture. This leads to the neglect by state policies of the terraces and the access to water for irrigation or the diversification of the communities for intensive organic gardening.
On the other hand there exist many customary rules and laws in the communities – how to organise production, manage land rights – with a deep knowledge visible in rituals and local wisdom. Based on the analysis of the traditional systems of terraced farmers we will study the problems confronted by the terrace guardians and the potential of their experience, laws and wisdom for the change of policy makers in favour of the local societies and terraces. We will look into the possibilities to reinvindicate the rights of the local population by relying on the international covenants on indigenous knowledge, agro-biodiversity, cultural rights and others for the public good.
(Carlos Loret de Mola, Miguel Saravia)

8.GIS methodology and the inventory of Terraced Landscapes; terraced landscape analysis and planning with GIS instruments.

On of the tasks of ITLA has been to promote the inventories of landscapes throughout the world. With the existing technology of GIS exist many possibilities and options to realise inventories and include substantive data in the maps, which help us to understand the dynamics of terraced landscapes and gives us the material to plan future perspectives for nature and people in the mountain regions. We propose an exchange between the IT specialists of GIS for the compatible use of data and software, so that inventories become easy to use and compare between regions and continents. The Use of GIS maps and data is an additional advantage and demand of the terrace farmers and of technicians and scientists looking into the future of terraced landscapes. It will be one more step towards a global inventory of terraced landscapes, allowing to fundament a Clearinghouse for Mountain Terraces.
(Aldo Cruz, Alonso Llosa, Louis Massón, Erika Yensen)

9.World Heritage and Landscapes - Attraction and Impact of Tourism

The meaning of heritage is that we inherit from previous generations tangible and in-tangible infrastructures, constructions, art works, knowledge, rituals, domesticated plants and animals, cultures, etc.
In the Andes we count with impressive samples in architecture, textiles, folklore, and also the domestication of biodiversity by using irrigation, storage houses and especially up to one million has of terraces for agricultural production.
FAO has developed a proposal to protect the historic heritage of agricultural systems (GIAHS) in Peru, Philippines, China, Chile and Algeria, focusing on the traditional agricultural knowledge systems, mostly in areas with terraces.
The diversity of terraces in Peru (from slow formation terraces to ritual terraces to observe sun, moon and stars) shows the deep knowledge of food production of the Andean populations, who made it possible in the last 4000 years to make use of the steep slopes of mountain areas – similar to other societies throughout the world – in the Himalayas, in SE-Asia, in China, in Cameroon and Ethiopia, in the Alps and the Pyrenees, etc..
It is necessary to study the situation of the heritage linked to terraced landscapes and their cultures, to analyse the legal consequences of becoming a world heritage site (Honghe terraces have been recognised as World Heritage Site by Unesco this year) and propose action looking into the impact of tourism on the sites, as the livelihoods get destroyed, the meaning of the agricultural terraces becomes distorted and the societies lose their cultural grounding.
(Ana Sabogal)

Registration Fee

300 $ per person and includes conference fee, receptions, coffee breaks and lunch buffet, local transport.
We calculate the field trips ahead of the Conference on a real cost basis for travel, food and lodging, material as well as for facilitators and local guides. Cusco provides many options with all types of food and lodging in different price categories as participants will have to cover their travel cost, lodging and partially food.
Possibilities for tourism in Cusco after the Conference are organised by Centro Bartolomé de las Casas (more information for interested participants).

Organising team

Hilda Araujo, John Earls, Mourik Bueno de Mezquita, Ana Sabogal, Oscar Toro, Carlos Amat y Leon, Miguel Saravia, Maruja Salas, Timmi Tillmann

Supporting group

Carmen Felipe Morales, Mario Tapia, Alipio Canahua, Lucho Masson, Ann Kendall, Douglas Walsh, Carlos Loret de Mola, Efraín Malpartida, Braulio La Torre, Lenkiza Angulo, Dora Velásquez, Juan Torres, Ricardo Claverías, Magdalena Machaca, Maja Tillmann, Richard Haep, Marco Sotomayor,

International Advisory Committee (in process)

Shi Junchao, Yang Fuquan (PR China), Donatella Murtas, Mauro Varotto (Italy), Lucka Azman (Slovenia), Sabina Asins (Spain), Heather Peters, David Feingold (Unesco SE-Asia), Teddy Baguilat (Philippines), William Rivera (USA)

Next steps and secretariat

In March 2013 we have established the secretariat with 3 contact points: in Cusco at the Center Bartolomé de las Casas as main local organizer, in Lima for the coordination of the organisations based in Lima with CONDESAN and the Catholic University, and also Lima as entry point to Peru for the field trips, and in Arequipa-Chivay at Desco-Sur as local field office.

The funding of the preparatory process and the World Conference will have several sources:

• contributions of the local organizers and participants in the preparatory process;
• registration fees;
• participants fund their travel, food and lodging in Cusco,
• the participants who join the field trips fund the travel costs in Peru (transport, guide, Food, lodging)
• contributions from local and regional governments
• International Cooperation and donations

Contact in Cusco for registration:

Yasmin Fernandéz, Center Bartolome de las Casas: contact e-mail, yasmin.fernandez@apu.cbc.org.pe ; telefono, (+) 51 – 84 – 238255, 245415 ; skype: yasminfg

Andres Estrada Zuñiga, Center Bartolome de las Casas: contact e-mail, andesaqp@yahoo.es ; andres.estrada@apu.cbc.org.pe ; telefono, (+) 51-984584265 (RPM * 6907453)

Mourik Bueno de Mesquita, Center Bartolome de las Casas: contact e-mail, mourik@casadelcorregidor.pe ; (+) 51 – 951747858

Contact in Lima

Luzmila Rosales, Condesan: contact e-mail, luzmila.rosales@condesan.org
Miguel Saravia: contact e-mail, miguel.saravia@condesan.org