Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS)
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GLOBALLY IMPORTANT AGRICULTURAL HERITAGE SYSTEMS Combining agricultural biodiversity, resilient ecosystems, traditional farming practices and cultural identity GIAHS CONTENTS PAGE 4-5 INTRODUCTION PAGE 6-7 KEY MESSAGES PAGE 8-9 A BRIEF HISTORY OF GIAHS PAGE 10-12 MAIN FEATURES OF GIAHS SITES PAGES 13-14 DYNAMIC CONSERVATION PAGE 15– 43 THE GIAHS GIAHS AROUND THE WORLD PROGRAMME 16-17 LOCATION OF GIAHS SITES WORLDWIDE RECOGNIZES THE 18-19 ALGERIA GHOUT SYSTEM 20-21 CHINA HANI RICE TERRACES PROUDEST 22-23 CHINA DONG’S RICE FISH DUCK SYSTEM TRADITIONS 24-25 ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN QANAT IRRIGATED AGRICULTURAL HERITAGE SYSTEMS 26-27 JAPAN MINABE-TANABE UME SYSTEM OF HUMAN 28-29 JAPAN TRADITIONAL WASABI CULTIVATION IN SHIZUOKA INGENUITY IN 30-31 KENYA AND TANZANIA OLDONYONOKIE/OLKERI AND ENGARESERO MAASAI PASTORALIST HERITAGE AREA HARNESSING 32-33 MEXICO CHINAMPA AGRICULTURE 34-35 PERU ANDEAN AGRICULTURE PRECIOUS 36-37 REPUBLIC OF KOREA TRADITIONAL GUDEULJANG IRRIGATED RICE TERRACES RESOURCES TO 38-39 SPAIN THE AGRICULTURAL SYSTEM OF VALLE SALADO DE AÑANA 40-41 SRI LANKA THE CASCADED TANK-VILLAGE SYSTEM IN THE DRY ZONE PROVIDE FOOD 42-43 UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA SHIMBWE JUU KIHAMBA AGRO-FORESTRY HERITAGE SITE AND LIVELIHOODS PAGES 44-47 GIAHS AND GLOBAL ISSUES AND PROTECT UNIQUE ECOSYSTEMS. Cover photo: CHINA - Xinghua Duotian Agrosystem. ©George Steinmetz 2 MOROCCO Oases System in Atlas Mountains. ©George Steinmetz 3 GIAHS INTRODUCTION GIAHS sites are testament to the intricate relationships human beings have with their unique territory, cultural and agricultural landscapes and their wider social environment. GLOBALLY THE PHILIPPINES IMPORTANT Ifugao rice terraces. AGRICULTURAL ©FAO/Lena Gubler HERITAGE For centuries, farmers, world, they sustainably provide SYSTEMS (GIAHS) herders, fishers and foresters multiple goods and services, food have developed diverse and and livelihood security for millions PROVIDE FOOD locally adapted agricultural of small-scale farmers. systems managed with time- AND LIVELIHOOD tested, ingenious techniques. Through a remarkable process of These practices have resulted coevolution of humankind and SECURITY FOR in a vital combination of nature, such sites have emerged social, cultural, ecological and over centuries of cultural and MILLIONS OF economic services to humankind. biological interactions and “Globally Important Agricultural synergies, representing the THE WORLD’S Heritage Systems” (GIAHS) are accumulated experiences of rural POOR AND outstanding landscapes of aesthetic people. Unfortunately, these beauty that combine agricultural agricultural systems are threatened SMALL-SCALE biodiversity, resilient ecosystems by many factors including climate and a valuable cultural heritage. change and increased competition FARMERS. Located in specific sites around the for natural resources. They are 4 also dealing with migration due to mitigate the threats faced by potentially many more to follow. to low economic viability, which farmers as well as enhance the GIAHS sites are testimony to has resulted in traditional farming benefits derived by these systems. the inventiveness and ingenuity practices being abandoned and Through multi-stakeholder of people in their management endemic species and breeds support, this approach aims to: of resources, biodiversity and being lost. provide technical assistance; ecosystem dynamics, and use of boost understanding of the value landscapes, codified in traditional In recognition of these global of keeping alive sustainable but evolving knowledge, practices threats to family farming and agricultural knowledge; and and technologies. These ancestral traditional agricultural systems, promote agricultural products, agricultural systems constitute the 16 years ago FAO launched agro-tourism and other foundation for contemporary and the GIAHS Programme. incentive mechanisms and future agricultural innovations Aiming to strike a balance market opportunities. and technologies. Their cultural, between conservation, sustainable ecological and agricultural diversity adaptation and socioeconomic There are currently 52 is still evident in many parts of development, the GIAHS GIAHS-designated sites in 21 the world, maintained as unique Programme helps identify ways countries around the world, with systems of agriculture. 5 GIAHS KEY MESSAGES Traditional agricultural systems are extremely important for sustaining livelihoods, maintaining rural communities, preserving knowledge, and protecting fragile landscapes and agrobiodiversity. For centuries, traditional agricultural systems provided food for many family farmers living in rural areas around the world. Today, they are also being increasingly recognized for sustaining livelihoods and maintaining local agrobiodiversity, fragile landscapes, traditional knowledge, and farmers’ identity and culture. Thanks to years of experience and knowledge, farmers in GIAHS sites have developed 6 sustainable agricultural practices to manage and use natural resources effectively. This knowledge offers examples of high resilience and precious agroecological techniques that can help agriculture adapt to ever-changing social, environmental and economic conditions. The unique legacy and FACTORS heritage that GIAHS sites have THREATENING to offer is an example of harmony between humans and their TRADITIONAL unique ecosystems in the context of sustainable development. AGRICULTURAL Peoples’ know-how and the SYSTEMS richness of biodiversity come together in GIAHS to achieve INCLUDE the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources UNSUSTAINABLE and ecosystems. MODELS OF GIAHS sites bring together AGRICULTURE, the economic, social and environmental dimensions at DRAMATIC LOSS the heart of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. OF LOCAL Small-scale and family farmers VARIETIES AND are the backbone of many GIAHS sites and can offer real solutions BREEDS, LAND CHINA for achieving food security and Zhejiang Huzhou ACCESS PRESSURE ending poverty by maintaining Mulberry-dyke & fish-pond system. rural communities, preserving AND CLIMATE ©Jianyi Dai knowledge, and protecting fragile landscapes and agrobiodiversity. CHANGE. 7 GIAHS A BRIEF HISTORY OF GIAHS Since its inception in 2002, the GIAHS Programme has built a strong local and international reputation in the fields of agricultural heritage and agricultural development. UNITED ARAB EMIRATES Al Ain and Liwa Historical Date Palm Oases. ©George Steinmetz ORIGINS OF GIAHS implemented with partners In response to global trends and in consultation with local undermining family agriculture communities and relevant OVER THE LAST and traditional agricultural stakeholders to assist member systems, in 2002, during the countries in identifying and DECADE, THE World Summit on Sustainable conserving GIAHS sites. NUMBER OF Development in Johannesburg, Projects carried out in 2008–14 South Africa, FAO launched a resulted in the designation DESIGNATED Global Partnership Initiative on of the first eight GIAHS the conservation and adaptive sites in six pilot countries: GIAHS SITES management of GIAHS. Algeria, Chile, China, Peru, the Philippines and Tunisia, HAS INCREASED EXPANSION OF GIAHS with other proposals from Since 2002, many global or the same period resulting in TO 52. country projects have been subsequent designations. 8 To enhance the capacity of At the national level, GIAHS In recent years, the GIAHS countries and to raise awareness of has contributed to the adoption Programme has gained the GIAHS concept, international, of policies that integrate traction globally. It has been regional and national conferences, agricultural heritage into specifically referenced at high- seminars, and training courses agricultural development level conferences where food were organized, including an programmes. In this way, security and agriculture have International GIAHS Forum in it has been influential in been discussed, such as the Rome, Italy (2006); Buenos Aires, promoting the sustainable G20 Agriculture Ministers’ Argentina (2009); Beijing, China use of biodiversity and meetings and the UN General (2011); and Noto, Japan (2013). genetic resources for food and Assembly in 2016.* agriculture, the protection *[G20 Agriculture Ministers Meeting Communiqué As a result, the number of of traditional knowledge 3 June 2016; Fourth APEC Ministerial Meeting on designated GIAHS sites increased, systems, culture and, more Food security, 27 September 2016; G20 Ag Ministers bringing added recognition to both importantly, creating a bridge to Action Plan 2017; UNGA Resolution 72/238, 20 the sites and the programme. a sustainable future. December 2017] 9 GIAHS MAIN FEATURES OF GIAHS SITES From food and livelihood security to landscape and seascape features, there are five major criteria which must be addressed in every GIAHS proposal. In developing the GIAHS Programme, several important aspects were taken into account to help profile the sites, such as natural, topographic and climate conditions. The main features consist of “Historical and CHILE contemporary relevance” and five Chiloé Agriculture. selection criteria detailed below. ©FAO/Liana John ONE OF THE Historical relevance Every GIAHS site has its own contribute to human well-being MAIN GIAHS unique story of development. and quality of life and to generate CRITERIA IS TO Historical relevance can other local, national and global demonstrate how the site has economic and environmental ENSURE FOOD adapted to the surrounding goods and services to its environment