Utilise Local Resources to Achieve Resilient Rural Development A Case Study in Wangjinzhuang Village, Hebei Province

This article reveals an effective path for achieving endogenous rural development through the utilisation of local resources—exploration, conservation, and utilisation of germplasm resources. The authors summarise the Wangjinzhuang model as a cultural-translated endogenous-exogenous coupling mechanism. Wangjinzhuang Village is the core conservation area of the Shexian Dryland Stone Terraced System, a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System site in Hebei Province. Since the end of 2018, with the support of the public sector, Wangjinzhuang Village has organised a comprehensive survey of germplasm resources, establishing a dynamic conservation model that combines community seed banks with farmers’ own seed preservation. In addition to the effective local protection of germplasm resources, villagers, through the collection and organisation process, have reconnected with traditional crops and their underlying culture, activating intrinsic motivation for self-improvement and rural development. Based on this foundation, the development of characteristic industries focusing on local varieties can transform resource advantages into industrial advantages, supporting the sustainable development of GIAHS sites and rural revitalisation.