Yoshihide Endo: “Unique agricultural features that characterize GIAHS can’t disappear”

There are ancient unique spaces on the planet that are more relevant than ever. Capsules in time so perfect and complex that they have been able to sustainably nourish entire communities over the centuries. Ancestral know-how such as that treasured by these breathtaking landscapes cannot go unnoticed. We talked about this with Yoshihide Endo, coordinator of the Important Agricultural World Heritage Systems (GIAHS), an initiative that highlights the importance of areas that combine biodiversity, resilient ecosystems, tradition and innovation in a unique way. 

What is the main objective of GIAHS? 

By designating the unique features of GIAHS sites, we are trying to achieve both conservation and their development, including rural communities. Designation is just one of the steps to achieve this goal.  

What impact do GIAHS have on local communities? 

GIAHS have two main intangible impacts. The first primary impact is to raise awareness of the local farmers and stakeholders as to the importance of their systems. They are highly motivated to maintain the agricultural systems and to increase its value, something that has a very large impact.  

The second main impact of the GIAHS is that other people outside of them might realize the value of these sites, bringing to public attention the importance of these systems that for a long time, remained hidden.  

Is there any resistance from local communities? Do they not see it as a brake on their development? 

We don’t hear any kind of resistance and probably one of the reasons is because we promote communication through all stages of the proposal-making process. We ask the local governments to explain the GIAHS initiative to its citizens and what will happen if the site is designated as such. In all stages, local people are aware of what will happen after the designation. 

Some people might think that once the GIAHS is designated they cannot do any innovative or new activities. However, thanks to that prior informed consent I mentioned above, local farmers fully understand what will happen after being designated. Actually, they can continuously implement innovative activities as far as the original GIAHS unique features are maintained. This is our understanding, and we are encouraging to make this informed consent process to each member country that is making a proposal.   

How does FAO identify and select the agricultural systems that are part of the GIAHS? 

Actually, FAO does not select the GIAHS. FAO nominates a nine-member expert body, the Scientific Advisory Group (SAG), and we ask them to make evaluations and make the final decision. On the other hand, the nomination of SAG members is FAO responsibility as well as the designation process. 

For a site to be designated as a GIAHS, it must fulfil five different criteria: food and livelihood security, agro-biodiversity, local and traditional knowledge systems cultures, value systems and social organisations, landscapes and seascapes features. As well, the site must show unique features that can be evaluated as a global importance because of their sustainability or demonstration of good agricultural practices.  

In what context was this initiative created? And why is it important to provide this recognition?  

There are many unique agricultural systems in the world that have achieved sustainability and maintain a good agricultural practices for conservation and treasure knowledge. Unfortunately, most of these agricultural systems have been facing a sort of crisis for its continuation.  

The main point of GIAHS is establishing a system that protects these areas. We have to identify where they are and specify their unique features. So, the GIAHS system is based on this notion of crisis and suggests that unique agriculture features that characterize these systems can’t disappear. 

At a time when there is a lot of talk about precision agriculture and data, is it not a contradiction to recognize traditional techniques? 

In fact, GIAHS do not exclude such kind of innovating technologies. On the contrary, they try to include state-of-the-art technologies as far as their original and traditional elements are maintained. I think that kind of competition is not possible because new technologies can be integrated into a new type of agriculture.  

What is the role of GIAHS in relation to the conservation of biological and cultural diversity? 

Once a GIAHS is designated, what is expected is to implement a series of activities to promote the conservation of the site, including the protection of biodiversity and cultural values.  

Sometimes, those features are ignored even by local farmers themselves. By shedding light on the value of the GIAHS, local people, politicians, researchers and NGOs start to reorient their efforts to conservation of those values that have been silenced for a long time. Also, by disseminating these features outside of the GIAHS area, we motivate consumers to buy products originated in those areas as well as visiting GIAHS sites. In this sense, indirect and long term economic impacts will also help facilitate the conservation mechanism.  

Is it possible to foster collaboration and knowledge sharing among GIAHS at the global level? 

Yes, of course, it is also quite necessary. FAO is trying to encourage matching GIAHS sites that are located in different places to share their experiences or to make joint projects when possible. That is one of our tasks: to encourage collaboration among different regions of the GIAH sites with similar types of agricultural systems.  

Valencia (Spain) and Japan are a good example. The valencian fishermans foundation could partner with Japan fisheries and have a synergy effect, and discuss how to prevent pollution, as well as how to maintain the fisheries biodiversity and ecology. 

How many potential GIAHS are currently under study? Which of them has particularly caught your attention? 

At the moment, we are discussing around 16 GIAHS. The reason why I can’t state it clearly is because they are all at different stages of the process proposal.  

Generally speaking, most of them come from Asian countries but my attention was drawn to a recent attempt from Germany, the first from this country. It is based on small different types of agricultural activities connected to urban areas. Small scale and different kind of agriculture connecting cities. Fish ponds, fruit trees and cereal oriented productions all connected to cities in a way that is quite unique.  

All GIAHS are amazing, but which one do you consider most impressive? 

Personally, I’m impressed by Latin-American GIAHS sites, such as those located in Peru, Mexico, Ecuador and Chile. Specially, because they offer a wide variety of agrobiodiversity that I find magnificient.