09.04.2013

Second World Conference on Nature and Cultures of Terraced Landscapes

The guardians of the terraced landscapes and its biodiversity, the cultural and natural diversity 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 2013 in Peru has united a team of 20 organisers and about 15 supporting institutions from Peru. With the cooperation by Maruja Salas and Timmi Tillmann from ITLA the team has agreed to organise 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 visionx 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 poltical, social and economic barriers and propose alternative action to promote terraced landscapes and 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 farmer agriculture.
• Strengthen an intergenerational 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, 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 organisers and supporters of the World Conference include Universities, Research Centers, young academics, NGOs, national and local government agencies, networks and communities from Peru.

Preparatory process in each country or region

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

• The Inventory of terraced landscapes in Peru.
• Updated comprehensive Bibliography about nature and culture of terraces 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 lanscapes use (Nature and Culture).
• Field course in Chivay, Colca Valley, Arequipa in October of 2013 to analyse 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 proposed to organise the national Encounter in Italy from 3 to 4 of May 2013 with the possibility that participants from other European countries could attend.
• 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

12 to 17 of May 2013

Field trips in parallel groups to 4 different regions (Lima, Central
Andes – Ayacucho – Apurimac, South – Arequipa, Puno, and South East – Cusco). initial workshop of 1 day in Lima 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.

18 of May 2013

A Public Fair of Arts, Food and Wisdom about terraced landscapes and cultures

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.

Themes of the Conference

• 1. History and Cultures of terraced landscapes
• 2. Water, Territory and Climate Change
• 3. Construction and Maintenenace of Terraces
• 4. Traditional indigenous knowledge about agro-biodiversity of agricultural terraces
• 5. Food Sovereignty (Local seeds and Organic Farming)
• 6. The social organisation of mountain people as guardians of terraces and domesticators of plants and animals in diverse agro-ecological zones
• 7. Governance of terraced landscapes and human development. Policies - State - Laws and Customary Laws
• 8. GIS methodology and the inventory of Terraced Landscapes; terraced landscape analysis and planning with GIS instruments
• 9. World Heritage and Landscapes - Attraction and Impact of Tourism

The complete document with practical information to take part in the 2nd World Conference can be downloaded here below.