The fourth Conference of East Asia Research Association for Agricultural Heritage Systems (ERAHS) was held in Huzhou City, Zhejiang Province from July 11-13, 2017.The purpose of the meeting was to promote academic exchange, and share experiences in the field of agricultural heritage protection and promote cooperation in East Asia, with the theme of "Promoting the Conservation of Agricultural Heritage Systems through Industrial Convergence".

During the Seminar, Professor MIN Qingwen from the Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research (IGSNRR), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) delivered the opening speech. He praised the achievements of China, Japan and South Korea in the practice of agricultural heritage protection and management. He also introduced the practical experiences related to the dynamic conservation of agricultural heritage systems in China.  

During the meeting, delegates visited the Zhejiang Huzhou Mulberry-dyke & Fish- pond System, the Nanxun town, the Digang town, and the Mulberry-dyke & Fish-pond Historical and Cultural Museum. The Mulberry-dyke & Fish-pond system was designated as a Nationally Important Agricultural Heritage System in 2014.  

To strengthen regional collaboration in the dynamic conservation of agricultural heritage systems, the ERAHS was established on October 22, 2013 by the IGSNRR. The Fifth ERAHS is slated to be held in Wakayama, Japan, in June 2018.

More than 230 people attended the meeting, including the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS) Secretariat from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the FAO GIAHS Scientific Advisory Group (SAG), the International Exchange Service Center of the Ministry of Agriculture, Chinese Society of Agronomy, agricultural heritage researchers, managers, farmer representatives, and journalists from Japan, Korea and China.