Climate Change Intensifies Threats to Ifugao's Ancient Terraces
The renowned rice terraces of Ifugao, Philippines, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, are confronting growing challenges from extreme weather patterns linked to climate change. Despite the enduring efforts of the indigenous Ifugao people to preserve their ancestral lands and cultural heritage, limited governmental resources are hindering their capacity to mitigate the escalating environmental impacts.
Nestled amidst towering cliffs, the village of Batad exemplifies this struggle. At approximately 1,100 meters (3,608 feet) above sea level, its amphitheater-like rice terraces are a breathtaking spectacle. Apu Penneng, a respected Ifugao elder and custodian of significant rice fields in Batad, embodies the community's deep connection to the land. Dressed in traditional attire, he participates in rituals like the Tanig, a pre-harvest ceremony, and observes the Bullogan chi Munbotoh, a procession to the harvest site, reflecting centuries-old traditions that bind the community to their agricultural cycle.
However, the majestic landscape now bears scars of recent environmental calamities. Evidence of collapsed earth and boulders mar the pristine terraces. In November of the previous year, Super Typhoon Fung-wong unleashed a devastating landslide that claimed two lives and destroyed a crucial irrigation canal, impacting 2.2 hectares (5.4 acres) of rice fields and affecting 150 farmers. Apu Penneng described it as the most severe event in recent memory, pointing to a deforested area above the terraces, a stark reminder of the typhoon’s destructive power.
Increasing Frequency of Extreme Weather Events
The incident underscores a troubling trend of more frequent and intense weather events. Batad has experienced similar landslides in 2011, 2023, and 2025. With the anticipated Super El Niño, a climatic phenomenon known to elevate global temperatures and intensify extreme weather and rainfall, the Ifugao community fears further damage. A visible crack from the deadly 2025 landslide persists as a grim testament to the ongoing threat.
A study published in the scientific journal Nature in August 2025 revealed that 80 percent of UNESCO World Heritage Sites globally are under climate-induced stress. The study highlighted that sites in low and middle-income countries, like the Ifugao terraces, receive minimal conservation support, making them particularly vulnerable. In tropical monsoon regions, these conditions manifest as record heatwaves, prolonged droughts, and sudden, torrential downpours—precisely the conditions that impacted Batad.
Lawyer Marlon Martin, who heads the Save the Ifugao Terraces Movement (SITMO), emphasized the exacerbating role of climate change. He explained that the stability of the rice terraces relies on consistent soil moisture. Recent dry spells have led to deep cracks, increasing the terraces' susceptibility to erosion. When heavy rains occur, water rapidly infiltrates these cracks, causing erosion and potential soil collapse. Martin warned that the Super El Niño is likely to intensify these issues.
Community Efforts and Funding Shortfalls
Restoration efforts following the November landslide in Batad are estimated to cost around $500,000, according to Steve Baccay, head of Ifugao’s Provincial Agriculture and Environment Office. Local residents have proactively engaged in voluntary communal work, known as bachang, to repair the damaged irrigation canal. While government social welfare and labor departments have provided emergency food and cash aid, substantial national government funding for broader restoration is not expected until the next fiscal year.
Historically, the Ifugao people have adapted to climatic shifts using ingenious indigenous engineering techniques to protect their terraces. However, Martin believes that the increased frequency and severity of contemporary weather events necessitate greater national intervention to ensure Batad's resilience.
For Batad village chief Romeo Heppog, the rice terraces are more than just a source of livelihood; they are integral to the community's identity and way of life. The annual rice harvest festival, with its sacred rituals like the Tanig led by chief Indigenous priest Apu Buy-a Nadyug, serves to honor ancestors and reaffirm a commitment to preserving the terraces for future generations. During these rituals, blessings are sought, and offerings, including the symbolic slaughter of chickens, are made to ancestral spirits. The scrutiny of chicken guts by the Mumbaki (priest) concludes with a pronouncement of a bountiful harvest, followed by the joyful banging of gongs signifying the start of the harvest.
In these moments, the community's worries are temporarily overshadowed by the rhythmic sounds passed down through generations. Apu Penneng, proceeding to his rice field, expresses pride in his community, asserting, “We will get through this.” From a distance, Mount Amuyao, the country’s tenth-highest peak, stands sentinel over Batad, symbolizing a steadfast guard against nature's threats. Marlon Martin stresses the need for regular subsidies to support Batad farmers, enabling them to sustain both their farming practices and their families.
Source: Original Article
