Sales of green energy to help halt decay of Philippines' legendary rice terraces
Jan 21, 2010 - 5:00:00 AM
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A study in 2004 estimated that halting the terraces deterioration would require $US 400,000 per year.
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By e8,
[RxPG] Philippines officials today received the symbolic keys to a donated 200 kW hydro-electric project that, in addition to green energy, will start generating money to halt deterioration of the country's fabled ancient rice terraces.
The massive, spectacular and iconic Asian rice terraces were created on mountainsides largely by hand by indigenous people of the northern Ifugao province at least two millennia ago. Fed by tropical forest springs above, they are popularly referred to as the stairways to Heaven, and the Eighth Wonder of the World.
Eighty generations later, the terraces' condition prompted UNESCO in 2001 to include them on its list of World Heritage Sites in Danger.
The $1 million mini-hydro facility, donated by the e8 and located discretely in the Ambangal river downstream of the postcard terraces, will create annually about 1,450 megawatts hour (MWh) of much-needed new energy for the area, meeting 18% of the province's electricity needs, and generating some US $70,000 in annual revenue for the new Rice Terrace Conservation Fund, fully dedicated to urgently needed shoring up of the terraces and related activities.
Developed over four years in collaboration with the Philippines Department of Energy and the Provincial Government of Ifugao, the facility was built and donated by Japan's Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) on behalf of the e8, an international non-profit organisation of 10 leading power utilities from G8 countries.
This project is an important step towards the successful protection of one of the world's most important cultural treasures - a hope shared by people all over the world, says Carmelita Buyuccan, head of Ifugao's Provincial Planning and Development Office. It will also help maintain and improve the quality of life for local communities, which we hope will encourage more young people to continue the time-honored culture and practices of rice terrace farming.
Says Johane Meagher, e8 Executive Director: When this initiative began in 2006, the partners and UNESCO foresaw an opportunity not only to help preserve these historic terraces but to showcase an interesting model of sustainable rural energy development and regional revitalisation, the chance to demonstrate the potential of mini-hydro power generation throughout the Philippines and the region.
The rice terraces are located about 1,500 meters above sea level and cover more than 10,000 square kilometers (about 4000 square miles) of mountainside, fed by an ancient irrigation system from the rainforests above. According to folklore, placed end to end the terraces would encircle half the globe.
Terrace restoration and watershed enhancement efforts, and community irrigation systems, are top priorities for the Rice Terrace Conservation Fund, to be managed by the Cultural Heritage Office of the Ifugao Provincial Government. Applications will also be received related to private enterprise support, cultural enhancement and organic agriculture input production.
A study in 2004 estimated that halting the terraces deterioration would require $US 400,000 per year.
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