Conclusion
This article has discussed a key challenge to sustainable rural development in Asia, namely how to balance the need to conserve traditional agricultural landscapes and the need to improve rural livelihoods. It argues that the long-term sustainability of the Hani Rice Terraces depends on the socio-cultural resilience of their custodian communities. Tree worship lies at the heart of terraced rice-farming culture. To help these forest-dependent communities adapt to socio-economic changes, the paper has proposed an endogenous development strategy that promotes community-based tourism activities and marketing of native agricultural products. An action plan can be further developed through multi-stakeholder meetings and consultation with community members. It is hoped that these initiatives can instil a sense of ownership and pride in local communities, who will continue to live and prosper on the Hani Rice Terraces.