Wando-gun Signs MOU to Preserve National Important Agricultural Heritage, Cheongsan Gudlejang Rice Terraces

Establishing a Cooperative System for the Conservation and Utilization of National Important Agricultural Heritage

Governor Shin Woo-cheol of Wando County, Chairman Heo Gung-hee of the Wando County Council, Councilor Kim Jae-hong, and related officials demonstrated a traditional rice planting event together with members of the resident council. Photo by Wando County

[Wando＝Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Choi Kyung-pil] Wando-gun, Jeollanam-do (Governor Shin Woo-cheol) announced on the 10th that on the 9th, it signed a business agreement with the social cooperative ‘Cheongsando Gudeuljangnon Bojeon Dure’ in Sangseo-ri, Cheongsan-myeon to preserve and utilize Cheongsan Gudeuljangnon, a nationally important agricultural heritage site.

Cheongsando Gudeuljang Non features a method of stacking stone retaining walls by placing gudeul (stone slabs) on steep terrain, creating a structure where the upper paddy fields connect to the lower ones, allowing efficient use of agricultural water.

Recognized for its unique irrigation system and biodiversity value, it was designated as a National Important Agricultural Heritage in 2013 and as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS) by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in 2014.

This business agreement was promoted to continuously support the resident council’s leading preservation and utilization projects for the globally important agricultural heritage Cheongsando Gudeuljang Non and to establish a systematic public-private cooperation system.

According to the agreement, ‘Cheongsando Gudeuljangnon Bojeon Dure’ will actively participate in restoring and maintaining the gudeuljang non, fostering landscape agriculture linked to restoration, conducting resident capacity-building education and related learning programs, and operating programs to preserve the local agricultural environment of the gudeuljang non area.

Furthermore, after the agreement, to encourage the continuous preservation activities of the Gudeuljangnon Preservation Council members and to promote the tradition and excellence of the gudeuljang non, Governor Shin Woo-cheol, along with Wando County Council Chairperson Heo Gung-hee, Council Member Kim Jae-hong, and related officials, demonstrated a traditional rice planting event with the resident council members.

Governor Shin Woo-cheol said, “Cheongsando Gudeuljang Non is striving to be registered this year as a World Heritage Irrigation Structure (WHIS) through consultations at international academic conferences and discussions with the Korea Irrigation and Drainage Committee,” adding, “Through this agreement, I expect the residents to play their role in beautifully cultivating and preserving the gudeuljang non, which is a natural treasure of Cheongsando and a legacy from our ancestors.”

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