Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras

Terrace in agriculture is a leveled section of a hilly cultivated area and this method of farming is practiced throughout the whole regions of Pacific Asia. In the Philippines there is a human landscape of rice cultivation in terraces. The Banaue terraces in Cordillera Region is an ancient rambling man made structure from 2000 to 3000 years ago with a 70% slanting slopes. Situated within the provinces of Apayao, Benguet, Mt. Province and ifuagao, this unique structure was recognized by UNESCO and inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 1995.

The terraces are approximately 1500 m above sea level and cover 10,360 sq km of the mountain side. The terraces was built to maximize farming space in mountainous Cordillera region and to prevent erosion. The walls of the terraces are compacted earth and stones about 6 to 7 m high carved by hand out of whole mountainsides.

Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras
Date of Inscription: 1995
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