‘Damyang Bamboo Grove Agriculture’ Designated as Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System

Bamboo Item Registered as the 'World's First'

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Yoon Jamin] Jeonnam Province announced on the 30th that "Damyang Bamboo Grove Agriculture" has been designated as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS) by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

This is the "world's first" registration for a bamboo-related agricultural product.

The Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems are agricultural heritages designated by the FAO since 2002 to preserve unique agricultural systems, biodiversity, and traditional agricultural knowledge worldwide. Currently, 57 sites across 21 countries are registered.

The FAO's Scientific Advisory Group (SAG) for GIAHS, which conducted the evaluation, recognized the cultural and social values of "Damyang Bamboo Grove Agriculture," including ▲traditional agricultural techniques such as eco-friendly land use ▲beautiful agricultural cultural landscapes ▲and cultural rituals like the Juksinje, a bamboo spirit ceremony praying for bamboo growth.

The bamboo groves, established in most of the 354 natural villages in Damyang, have historically provided primary byproducts such as bamboo charcoal, bamboo shoots, tea plants, and mushrooms, serving as an important means of livelihood.

In particular, the water resources formed around the bamboo groves have been utilized for rice paddy farming, and bamboo is also recognized as an environmental conservation species due to its high oxygen emission.

Additionally, South Korea has designated 15 sites nationwide since starting the National Important Agricultural Heritage System in 2013.

"Damyang Bamboo Grove Agriculture" was designated as the 4th National Important Agricultural Heritage in 2014 and has been elevated to a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System after six years.

To date, a total of five Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems have been designated domestically, and Jeonnam Province's designation this time is the second following the "Wando Cheongsando Guduljang Rice Terraces (1st National Important Agricultural Heritage)" designated in 2014.

Areas designated as Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems receive an annual subsidy of 200 million KRW to establish and implement specific plans for continuous conservation management, including heritage resource surveys, restoration, and environmental maintenance.

Jung Hayong, Director of Agricultural Policy at Jeonnam Province, said, "Damyang Bamboo Grove is the world's first bamboo-related agricultural product to be registered, which has raised the value of bamboo agriculture. We will actively utilize it as a tourism resource to contribute not only to discovery, preservation, and maintenance but also to sustaining rural communities and revitalizing the local economy."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.