By Kang Gahui

Traditional methods of fishing and mountain farming on July 9 were named to the list of Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations.

Jukbangryeom is a traditional fishing practice that originated from the Jijok Strait area of Namhae-gun County, Gyeongsangnam-do Province.

This method uses stakes driven in a "V" shape in narrow waters between islands and toward the direction of the current. Then comes the installation of bamboo poles between the stakes to lead fish toward the water flow and trap them at the end of the stakes.

This approach dates back to the 15th century and its development continues in present day, being linked to the region's unique marine environment, historical background and cultural activities.

In Uljin-gun County, Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, the second designation went to an agroforestry system where routes for seafood transportation and merchant trading were formed along a red pine forest. The basis of the system is the county's topographical traits like the coexistence of mountain and fishing villages and development of traditional taverns and villages.

County residents have maintained their area's agriculture and settlement culture by adapting to the forest's structure. Even today, they have systematically preserved and sustainably used the woods through carefully managing the forest, harvesting wild pine mushrooms, securing mountain farmland, utilizing traditional irrigation methods and running regional autonomous organizations.

The GIAHS designation recognizes systems that preserve traditional agricultural and fishery methods created and developed by a country or community over a long period while adapting to their environment.

The FAO list honors globally important agricultural, fishery and forestry heritage systems, related landscapes and areas rich in biodiversity.

Korea now has nine regions with the designation. The others are a traditional hand net method of gathering marsh clams in the Seomjingang River in Hadong-gun County, Gyeongsangnam-do Province, and Gwangyang, Jeollanam-do; haenyeo (female divers) on Jeju Island; traditional irrigated rice terraces on Cheongsando Island off Wando-gun County, Jeollanam-do; agricultural approach of using stone fences in Jeju; tea cultivation in Hadong-gun; ginseng farming in Geumsan-gun County, Chungcheongnam-do Province; and bamboo grove agriculture in Damyang-gun County, Jeollanam-do.

kgh89@korea.kr