Philippines' UNESCO Rice Terraces Face Growing Threat from Climate Change

The centuries‑old rice terraces of Ifugao province in the Philippines, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, are increasingly vulnerable to extreme weather. In November 2025 a super‑typhoon triggered a landslide that killed two villagers, destroyed a historic irrigation canal and damaged about 2.2 hectares of paddies, affecting roughly 150 farmers. Similar landslides occurred in 2011, 2023 and 2025, and the upcoming Super El Niño is expected to heighten the risk of further damage.

Local officials and community leaders say limited government funding and a lack of comprehensive disaster‑risk strategies are hampering efforts to protect the terraces. Indigenous knowledge of sustainable farming exists, but without sufficient resources it cannot be fully applied. Calls are growing for a multi‑faceted approach that combines traditional practices with modern conservation techniques and stronger budget support to safeguard this cultural and agricultural heritage.