Deqing’s agricultural treasure awarded GIAHS status by the UN

At an awards ceremony at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) headquarters in Rome, a certificate was handed to representatives from Deqing County in Huzhou, Zhejiang Province. The county’s freshwater pearl mussel composite fishery system was honored as a newly designated Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS), marking Huzhou's second designation after the Mulberry-Dyke and Fish-Pond System in 2017, and China's 25th.

Deqing's long-standing history as the origin of artificial freshwater pearl cultivation dates back to the Southern Song Dynasty some 800 years ago. This led to the development of a unique composite aquaculture system which integrates various aquatic species and maintains a natural ecological cycle, providing a sustainable model that balances economic interests and environmental protection.

During the UN GeoNow event in Deqing in October, Dejan Jakovljevic, the chief information officer and director of the FAO's Digitalization and Informatics Division, discussed the close connection between digital tools and heritage protection at the site, and how technology could help assess water quality and aid sustainable heritage work.

Deqing has now established the "pearl +" industry chain, which integrates pearl cultivation, cosmetics, health products, jewelry, and cultural tourism. The deep-processing industry currently generates an annual output of over 7 billion yuan (about $971 million), accounting for around 10 percent of the national total, and provides employment for nearly 20,000 people.