On the northern island of Luzon, the living cultural landscape of the Ifugao Rice Terraces stretches across the face of the Philippine Cordillera mountains. For over 2,000 years, the Ifugao people have passed the terraces down from generation to generation, alongside intricate irrigation and farming systems and ritual practices that remain virtually unchanged—an enduring representation of ancient Philippine civilization. Their maintenance requires a cooperative effort of the whole community in a finely tuned annual system—respecting lunar cycles, zoning and planning, extensive soil conservation and a complex pest control regime. The Ifugao Rice Terraces are a beautiful example of harmony between humanity and environment.
—Prepared by the World Tribune staff
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