Abstract
This study examines the integration of intangible heritage values into the conservation management plan of the Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras, a UNESCO World Heritage Site inscribed in 1995. Despite the site’s recognition for its outstanding universal value, conservation efforts have historically prioritised physical fabric over the living traditions, indigenous knowledge, and socio-cultural practices that sustain the terraces. Through a mixed-methods approach combining qualitative interviews with indigenous knowledge holders, participatory photographic surveys, document analysis of management plans, and a quantitative survey of 320 stakeholders (including local farmers, heritage managers, and tourism operators), the research identifies critical gaps between policy frameworks and on-the-ground realities. Results reveal that intangible values—such as communal water-sharing rituals, the hudhud chants, and the mumbaki priestly system—are perceived by local communities as equally important as the physical structures, yet they remain poorly represented in official management documents. A regression analysis indicates that community participation in decision-making and recognition of indigenous knowledge are the strongest predictors of support for conservation initiatives. The paper proposes a revised conservation management plan framework that embeds intangible heritage within all stages of planning, monitoring, and adaptive management. It concludes that without a deliberate integration of intangible values, the long-term sustainability of the Rice Terraces—as both a physical and a living cultural landscape—remains at risk. The findings offer transferable lessons for other UNESCO World Heritage Sites grappling with the dual mandate of preserving tangible and intangible heritage.