The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) included the terraced rice paddies in (완도) Wando and the stone fences of Jeju called “batdam”, on its list of Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems in 2014.
Wando has made efforts to preserve their traditional agricultural system. Meanwhile, Jeju has yet to make concerted efforts to preserve its own traditional stone walls.
Mike Balfour reports.

On (청산도) Cheongsando Island in (완도) Wando, South (전라) Jeolla Province, terraced rice paddies or (구들장논) Gudeuljangnon are found.
Farmers place flat and shallow stones on a layer of gravel, which lets the water flow through.

[slug] Terraced rice paddy on Cheongsando Island shows traditional farming knowledge
Other kinds of crops can be grown at lower parts of the rice paddy structure as water flows through.

[slug] Terraced rice paddy and stone fence on list of GIAHS

In 2014, the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) included the terraced rice paddies on its list of Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems along with Jeju’s stone fences, known as batdam.
As populations in rural areas decrease and the remaining farmers become aged, these two heritage systems are being threatened.
[slug] Terraced Rice Paddy Conservation Council joined by 17 area residents

To preserve the heritage, a Terraced Rice Paddy Conservation Council has been founded.
The council is small but all 17 members are making efforts to keep the heritage alive.

[slug] Support cultivation on terraced rice paddies

One of its preservation efforts is a farming support program designed to support cultivation on the terraced rice paddies.
If a urbanite joins the program by paying annual membership fees, crops harvested at the rice paddies are delivered to the member.

Kim Mi-gyeong / Terraced Rice Paddy Conservation Council
After the terraced rice paddies that used to be weedy were restored, investors came here to purchase the rice paddies. The local government doesn’t care about the heritage. That’s why we’re working to keep the heritage untouched.
< 김미경 / 청산도 구들장 논 보존협의회 사무국장 >
잡풀이 무성했던 곳을 예쁘게 계단식으로 만드니까 외부 사업자가 들어와서 땅을 사 버리고, 완도군은 무관심하고… 그래서 우리가 적극적으로 보존해야 한다는 생각을 너무 많이 하고 있어요.

Wando’s experience with preservation contrasts with Jeju.

[slug] Planned stone wall preservation projects not fully in place

There are ten projects planned to promote or preserve Jeju’s volcanic stone walls.
Only a few projects, including the creation of a stone wall themed park and trekking trails, and a stone wall festival have been fulfilled.

[slug] Projects including designation of stone wall masters at standstill

Designation of stone wall building masters and registration of stone walls, key preservation projects, have been at a standstill for more than five years.

Gang Seung-jin / Jeju Agriculture and Fishery Heritage Committee
If all of the stone wall building masters pass away, knowledge and information on the walls can not be passed down to the next generations. They deserve recognition as experts.
< 강승진 / 제주도 농어업유산위원장 >
장인들이 돌아가셔 버리면 그들의 재능과 정보가 단절, 사장되기 때문에 밭담이 세계유산으로 된 만큼 전문가로 대접받을 필요가 있지 않을까.

[Reporter] Mike Balfour
[Camera] Hyeon Gwang-hun
[Video] Courtesy of YouTube

Efforts made by the residents of (청산도) Cheongsando Island should serve as an inspiration for the preservation of Jeju’s agricultural heritage.

Mike Balfour, KCTV