GIAHS: stories worth telling

In some parts of the world, there remain hidden sources of life so perfect that they are worth admiring and allowing to evolve: Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS). We have much to learn from them, which is why FAO is committed to recovering this ancestral wisdom and preserving it to ensure a sustainable future. Shall we explore the most recent additions?

Past, present and future

Before we begin, let’s review the value of the GIAHS. These unique places preserve important human traditions of sustainability and living in harmony with nature. Far from competing with it, they coexist with wildlife and have demonstrated that they can adapt to our changing reality, ensuring food security and strengthening the livelihoods of their communities. Their secret? The accumulated knowledge that is transferred from generation to generation, continuous innovation and exchange with other communities and ecosystems.

Today, these impressive landscapes total 74 systems located in five regions of the planet. FAO recently awarded certificates to 24 of them, let’s take a look at them!

Let us begin with Latin America and the Caribbean, where four systems have been incorporated. The first to join was the traditional agricultural system in the Southern Espinhaço Meridional in Minas Gerais, Brazil, for its outstanding role in protecting the native flora.

In Ecuador, the following have been added to the list:

• The Andean Chakra, the centre of the development of the material and symbolic life of Kichwa families and communities, a space for experimentation and exchange and in situ conservation of seeds, highly productive and conducive to achieving food sovereignty.
• And the Amazonian Chakra, located in the province of Napo, offers multiple services to the populations in a megadiverse landscape.

Mexico stood out for Ich Kool, a Mayan Milpa in the Yucatan Peninsula, with a proven sustainability of at least 3,500 years providing food and sustenance to the milperos and milperas.

Furthermore, there are currently eight agricultural heritage systems in Europe and Central Asia. Spain just added three:

• The historical irrigation system in l’Horta de València, a heritage of Arab origin, which provides healthy products through 6,000 farms.
• The agro-silvo-pastoral system of the mountains of León, where agriculture, livestock, forestry, gathering, hunting and fishing coexist in the same space, which gives the area a great agro-ecological value.
• The agricultural system of ancient olive trees in the territory of La Sénia, which is home to 5,000 ancient olive trees that make this region unique and offer local communities numerous opportunities for rural development, such as the recovery of old abandoned olive trees.

Italy was recognised for the traditional vineyards of Soave, which for 200 years have supported the livelihoods of 3,000 families; and the olive groves on the slopes between Assisi and Spoleto, where olives have been cultivated since Etruscan times.

Shall we travel to North Africa? In Tunisia, FAO gave recognition to:

• the Hanging Gardens of Djebba El Olia, Tunisia, where local communities have transformed the landscape into fertile and productive land.
• The Ramli agricultural system in the lagoons of Ghar El Melh for its ingenious practices for cultivating in sand.

In addition, Morocco was highlighted for the argan-based agro-silvo-pastoral system in the Ait Souab-Ait Mansour region, which is based on agroforestry practices on dry stone terraces highly resistant to the arid environment; and for the ksour of Figuig for their oasis culture.

Asia and the Pacific, on the other hand, is home to 47 agricultural heritage systems spread over eight countries. Today, the largest number is in China (18), which has just added:

• The Shexian Dryland Stone Terraced System
• The Anxi Tieguanyin Tea Culture System
• The Ar Horqin Grassland Nomadic System in Mongolia
• The Integrated Forest-Mushroom Co-culture System in Qingyuan

Japan added the integrated system of Lake Biwa and its surroundings and the fruit cultivation system in the Kyoutou region (Yamanashi). In addition, the Republic of Korea was recognised for the Geumsan Traditional Ginseng Agricultural System, whose cultivation is one of the most valuable spiritual legacies for its culture; and the agricultural system of bamboo fields in Damyang.

Thailand has recently introduced the agroecological system of buffalo grazing in Thale Noi wetlands. Finally, Iran incorporated two: the saffron cultivation system based in Qanat, in Gonabad, and the grape production system in the Jowzan valley.

Come and learn more about them!