On the Recognition and Protection of Agricultural Heritagess in China

Through the introduction of the conception and connotation of agricultural heritages, this paper clarifies the connection and difference between the "Globally Important Agricultural heritages Systems (GIAHS)" proposed by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the "Agricultural heritages" researched in this paper. From the point of view of world heritage protection, this paper analyzes the protection and utilization of the heritage sites of China's agricultural system. Then the paper argues that the protection of the living integrated agricultural system heritage in China cannot be achieved only through the development of tourism industry. The protection of heritage entities and the inheritance of their cultural values are related to the sustainable development. And the key to sustainable development lies in how to improve the economic functions of production of such agricultural system heritage.