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Scoop
24-05-2025
- General
- Scoop
Three Sites In China Among Six Newly Recognized As Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems
Bangkok/ Rome - Three sites in China specializing in freshwater pearl mussels, white tea and pears have become the latest additions to Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS). Other newly designated sites include a traditional agroforestry system growing the erva-mate plant in Brazil, an ancestral system preserving vital food crops and biodiversity in Mexico and a distinctive farming system in the volcanic landscape of Spain's Lanzarote Island. 'Amid the increasing impacts of climate variability and extremes and biodiversity loss on agriculture and farmers, these systems are bright spots showing how communities can draw upon age old knowledge systems and practices to put food on the table, protect jobs and livelihoods and maintain unique and sustainable agricultural landscapes,' said Kaveh Zahedi, Director of the Office of Climate Change, Biodiversity and environment at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). 'Agricultural heritage systems are living examples of harmony between people and nature that have thrived and evolved through generations and have much to teach us as we adapt to an uncertain future.' The systems were formally designated under FAO's flagship programme during a meeting of the GIAHS Scientific Advisory Group on19 to 21 May. With the newest additions, FAO's worldwide agricultural heritage network now consists of 95 systems in 28 countries around the globe. The newly designated systems take the number in China to 25- the most of any country while Brazil now has two, Mexico three, and Spain six. Deqing Freshwater Pearl Mussels Composite Fishery System in Zhejiang Province, China In Deqing County, farmers have sustained an 800-year-old fish-mussel co-cultivation system that merges aquaculture, agriculture, and craftsmanship. Centered on shelled pearl mussel techniques, it yields pearls, rice, silk, and more. This circular system enhances biodiversity, food security, and cultural heritage, offering global insights into sustainable farming, ecological balance, and rural development. Mussel-based filtration reduces ammonia by 40 percent, nitrite by 54 percent, total nitrogen by 38 percent, and chemical oxygen demand (COD) by 30 percent, making aquaculture compatible with ecosystem restoration. The system supports more than 22 000 residents through farming, pearl processing, eco-tourism, and experiential education. Fuding White Tea Culture System in Fujian Province, China In Fuding, China, centuries-old white tea cultivation blends ecological wisdom and craftsmanship. Centered on the Lüxueya mother tree and natural withering techniques, this system integrates tea gardens with forests and crops, preserving biodiversity and supporting rural livelihoods. Deep cultural roots, rituals, and traditions reflect a strong bond between people, tea, and the land. The system preserves 18 tea tree varieties and beyond tea, it also embraces more than 120 other agricultural species, including 41 vegetables, 14 fruits, 11 domestic animal species, 31 freshwater species, and 32 edible fungi, contributing to ecological and food system resilience. Gaolan Shichuan Ancient Pear Orchard System in Gansu Province, China In Shichuan town by the Yellow River, a 600-year-old agroforestry system thrives, with towering pear trees cultivated using the traditional 'Gaotian' method. Integrating fruit trees, crops, and livestock, it preserves ancient varieties like Ruan'er and Dongguo. Resilient to droughts and floods, the system sustains agrobiodiversity, food security, and rural livelihoods. Annual pear yield exceeds 2 million kilograms; processed into fresh fruit, dried pears, and local specialties. Located in the arid Loess Plateau region, the system exemplifies dryland farming adapted to water scarcity and erosion-prone soils. The system helps conserve native plant and insect species by maintaining traditional polyculture practices and reducing reliance on chemical inputs. Shade-grown Erva Mate in Paraná, Brazil For centuries, Indigenous Peoples and traditional communities in southern Brazil have cultivated erva-mate in shaded agroforestry systems rooted in ancestral and agroecological practices. The leaves of the native tree species are traditionally consumed as chimarrão, tereré or mate in other countries like Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay. By integrating food crops, native fruits, and forest products, the system strengthens biodiversity, food sovereignty, and cultural identity, while helping conserve the Araucaria Forest, one of the planet's most endangered biodiversity hotspots and a vital reservoir of life. In a region heavily impacted by deforestation, where only one percent of the original forest remains, this system offers a rare example of agricultural practices that preserve forest cover while supporting livelihoods and cultural heritage. Metepantle Ancestral Agricultural System in Tlaxcala, México In the mountainous and semi-arid landscapes of Tlaxcala state, for over three millennia, farming families in Tlaxcala have sustained the Metepantle system, a terraced mosaic of maize, agave, beans, squash, and wild plants. Rooted in Nahua Indigenous Peoples' knowledge, it preserves seeds, supports dryland biodiversity, and anchors local food systems and livelihoods, offering resilience and cultural continuity in one of Mexico's most climate-vulnerable regions. The system maintains over 140 native species, including 40 maize landraces and 30 types of edible greens, practising community-based conservation through family traditions, seed fairs, and exchange networks. It provides fibre, food, drink, soil stabilization, and pollinator habitat. Agricultural Systems in Jable and Volcanic Sands in Lanzarote Island, Spain On Lanzarote, one of the Canary Islands, where arid black volcanic fields evoke a lunar landscape, and the wind rarely rests, farmers developed a remarkable agricultural system rooted in the innovative use of local soil. Following six years of volcanic eruptions in the 18th century, they began using volcanic lapilli or lava fragments (enarenado) and sea sand (jable) to trap moisture, regulate soil temperature and protect crops. Grapes, sweet potatoes, and legumes are cultivated using this method, which sustains biodiversity, livelihoods, and cultural heritage in one of Europe's driest regions — largely without irrigation. The enarenado system covers more than 12 000 hectares. It combines mulching with volcanic ash from historical eruptions and materials transported from volcanic zones, along with jable, a mulching technique that uses sea sand carried by wind and erosion over centuries.
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
City unveils Blaisdell's new PV system
STAR-ADVERTISER Ben Sullivan 1 /2 STAR-ADVERTISER Ben Sullivan STAR-ADVERTISER Allyn Lee 2 /2 STAR-ADVERTISER Allyn Lee STAR-ADVERTISER Ben Sullivan STAR-ADVERTISER Allyn Lee To celebrate Earth Day on Tuesday, the City and County of Honolulu formally unveiled a massive installation of 4, 554 large-format photovoltaic panels to assist in powering its prime entertainment venue. Atop the third floor of the parking structure at Neal S. Blaisdell Center, Mayor Rick Blangiardi and other city officials announced completion of a four-year project that will use solar energy connected to a wall-size bank of electric batteries at the city-owned property at 777 Ward Ave. Completed in December, the solar array spans the entire upper deck of the parking structure and will provide 100 % of the Blaisdell Center's daytime power use, reduce carbon pollution and provide shaded parking for visitors, the city said. Tuesday's media event also highlighted the release on the same day of the Mayor's Office of Climate Change, Sustainability and Resiliency's 2025 Annual Sustainability Report for Oahu. That document—mandated by city law to be completed each year, with the latest report spanning calendar year 2024—outlines the progress the city says it's made in terms of city operations, climate plans, clean and affordable modes of transportation, food security, waste management and disaster preparedness. The solar project, built with oversight by the city Department of Design and Construction, included contractors installing 200 tons of steel to build the solar array. Don 't miss out on what 's happening ! Stay in touch with breaking news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It 's FREE ! Email 28141 Sign Up By clicking to sign up, you agree to Star-Advertiser 's and Google 's and. This form is protected by reCAPTCHA. 'This project represents another key step towards achieving the ambitious and essential climate goals that we track progress on every year in the annual sustainability report, ' Ben Sullivan, executive director of the Office of Climate Change, said during the morning event. Haku Milles, the city Department of Design and Construction director, said 'this huge PV canopy system ' was under a so-called energy savings performance contract 'in which we are working on various city buildings across the island.' ESPCs, according to the city, help reduce energy consumption, water use and demand on utilities. Allyn Lee, DDC's chief of mechanical and electrical division, said the ESPC contract directly involved Johnson Controls and Good Current Hawaii. 'We worked together in planning, coordinating and implementing the various energy conservation measures at over 80 city buildings, and installing over 60 photovoltaic systems to improve how we use electricity in our public buildings, ' he said. Lee said multiple ESPC projects were done in phases. 'The first phase involved various energy conservation measures in 10 city buildings that consume the highest amount of energy, ' he said. 'These buildings included the Fasi Municipal Building, the Honolulu Police Department headquarters and the Honolulu Fire Department headquarters.' Phase 1 was completed in 2022, he said. 'The resulting energy savings of nearly $2 million annually exceeded our expectations, ' Lee added. 'These savings will be used to pay for the project over a 20-year period.' The second phase involved more than 80 other city-owned buildings, he said. 'These facilities include police and fire stations, corporation yards, satellite city halls, transit facilities, municipal golf courses, the Honolulu Zoo and here at the Neal Blaisdell Center, ' Lee added. He said that during the course of construction of Phase 2, the city saved 'over $1.7 million in energy costs.' 'This phase was completed in December, ' he said. 'We are currently measuring and verifying the energy savings. We are anticipating that we will be saving another $2 million annually.' Afterward, Lee told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser the city did not pay for the PV system project's 'upfront costs ' to Johnson Controls. 'They arrange third-party financing through a local bank, ' he added. 'And then we pay the bank on an annual basis for a 20-year term to pay for the construction, but that's through the energy savings that we generate for this project.' He said, 'As far as the total cost of the projects, I can only give you a rough order of magnitude.' 'For the ESPC projects the total cost is $60 million ; however, we'll pay that off through the energy savings (and ) through rebates, ' Lee said. 'Now, the order of magnitude for the photovoltaic system is around $30 million or so.' 'So the total project is around $100 million, ' he added, 'but the good thing is it's not being paid upfront by the city.' Meanwhile, Sullivan said the city's annual sustainability report goals are 'long-standing ' and 'difficult ' to accomplish. 'One in particular that I'm thinking of is the statewide commitment to zero emissions or better by 2045, ' he said. He noted a few highlights from the sustainability report, excluding the increase in energy use as Skyline rail operations started in 2023. 'City facilities have used less grid electricity every year since 2018, every single year, accounting for a more than 20 % reduction in use over that time, ' he said. Likewise, he added that city facilities also generated 10.5 megawatt-hours of renewable energy in 2024, 'which is an 8 % increase ' from 2023. Total electricity generated by renewable sources islandwide increased by 5.6 %, 'with the largest share of that being rooftop PVs, ' he said. 'On an islandwide level per capita, water consumption decreased by 2-1 /2 %, ' he claimed. As far as transportation, he said the number of plug-in electric vehicles increased by '22 % year over year.' 'There's 25, 000 or thereabouts electric vehicles on Oahu, so that's a big, big increase, ' he asserted. He said that 'sales of Oahu's food hubs increased by 5.7 %, ' compared with the previous year. In addition, 1, 288 trees were planted on city properties, contributing over 3, 500 communitywide plantings, the city says. And in 2024, the city claims, disaster preparedness and response training was provided to over 1, 300 people on Oahu. For more information on the city's latest Annual Sustainability Report, visit.
