Dynamic Conservation of Globally Important Agricultural Systems Clelia Maria Puzzo - GIAHS Secretariat (FAO)

1. Dynamic Conservation of Globally Important
Agricultural Systems
Clelia Maria Puzzo
GIAHS Secretariat
Food and Agriculture Organization
Of the United Nations (FAO)
Email: CleliaMaria.Puzzo@fao.org

2. In 2002 FAO launched the Global Partnership Initiative on
conservation and adaptive management of “Globally Important
Agricultural Heritage Systems”, with the aim of protecting some of
the most relevant farming systems that hold important genetic
resources, including some particularly at risk.
GIAHS Origin:
a Global Partnership Initiative
Current GIAHS Member
Countries

3. What are GIAHS?
GIAHS are defined as “remarkable land use systems
and landscapes which are rich in globally significant
biological diversity evolving from the co-adaptation of
a community with its environment and its needs and
aspirations for sustainable development"

4.  Famers had to establish complex and innovative
land use/management practices due to：
(a) geographic isolation;
(b) fragile ecosystems;
(c) limited natural resources;
(d) extreme climate conditions.
 Famers developed a strategy to minimize risks by
planting several species/varieties of crops
GIAHS Emerged from…

5. GIAHS
Biodiversity
Agriculture
Landscape
Culture and
Social
Organizatio
ns
Local
livelihoods
Food
security

6. GIAHS Approach
The GIAHS Programme promotes intervention
strategies at three distinct levels:
Global
National Local

7. GIAHS Criteria for selection
1. Food and livelihood security
2. Biodiversity conservation
3. Traditional Knowledge and ingenious
practices
4. Cultural values
5. Landscape features

8. GIAHS sites around the World
1 Rice-fish Culture (CHN)
2 Chiloé Agriculture (CHL)
3 Andean Agriculture (PER)
4 Ifugao Rice Terraces (PHI)
5,6,7 Oases of the Maghreb Region (TUN, ALG, MAR)
8.9 Maasai Pastoral Heritage (KEN, TAN)
10 Shimbue Juu Kihamba Agroforestry（TAN）
11 Dong’s Rice Fish Duck System (CHN）
12 Hani Rice Terraces(CHN）
13 Wannian Traditional Rice Culture (CHN）
14 Saffron Heritage of Kashmir (IND）
15 Sado’s Satoyama in harmony with Crested Ibis（JPN） 26 Jiaxian Traditional Chinese Date Gardens (CHN)
16 Noto’s Satoyama and Satoumi (JPN) 27 Xinghua Duotian Agrosystem (CHN)
17 Pu’er Traditional Tea Agrosystem (CHN) 28 Fuzhou Jasmine and Tea Culture System (CHN)
18 Aohan Dryland Farming System (CHN） 29 Qanat Irrigated Agricultural Heritage Systems, Kashan (IRI)
19 Traditional Agricultural Systems, Koraput (IND） 30 Traditional Gudeuljang Irrigated Rice Terraces in Cheongsando (KOR)
20 Kuaijishan Ancient Chinese Torreya (CHN） 31 Jeju Batdam Agricultural System (KOR)
21 Urban agricultural heritage – Xuanhua grape garden (CHN） 32 Al Ain and Liwa Historical Date Palm Oasis (UAE)
22 Managing Aso Grasslands for Sustainable Agriculture (JPN） 33 Floating Garden Agricultural System (BAN)
23 Traditional teg-grass integrated system in Shizuoka (JPN） 34 Ayu of the Nagara River System (JPN)
24 Kunisaki Integrated Forestry, Agriculture and Fisheries System (JPN） 35 Minabe-Tanabe Ume System (JPN)
25 Kuttanad Below Sea Level Farming System (IND） 36 Takachihogo-Shiibayama Mountaious Agriculture and Forestry System (JPN)

9. Article 8j, CBD: “Every contracting party shall (…) respect, preserve
and maintain knowledge, innovations and practices of indigenous
and local communities embodying traditional lifestyles relevant
for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity
and promote their wider application with the approval and
involvement of the holders of such knowledge, innovations and
practices and encourage the equitable sharing of the benefits
arising from the utilization of such knowledge innovations and
practices.”
Article 10c, CBD : “…protect and encourage customary use of
biological resources in accordance with traditional cultural practices
that are compatible with conservation or sustainable use requirements”
Aichi Biodiversity Targets
GIAHS contributes to biodiversity
conservation, as established by CBD

10. GIAHS concrete Activities in support
of dynamic conservation
• Promoting national mechanisms for the dynamic conservation of traditional
agricultural systems and their related biodiversity, landscapes, natural
resources and traditional practices:
- NIAHS;
- action plan;
- monitoring systems;
- national policies and plans;
- Implementation of national strategies to ensure that traditional varieties
are better valued;
• Establishing networks for exchange and dissemination of best practices
among the GIAHS sites and with new countries (example: twinning
programmes; GIAHS trainings);
• Involvement of local communities in workshops and capacity building
activities, to promote exchange of information on the traditional practices
with universities, schools, government authorities;

11. Success story 1: Rice-fish culture
in China
1. Ministry of Agriculture has adopted and
implemented the National Important Agricultural
Heritage Systems (NIAHS). (Overwhelming
NIAHS applications were received from over 60
prefectures/counties.)
2. After the designation in 2005:
• Rice with GIAHS label sells 60% higher than
similar rice with no label
• The number of tourists increased by 100% in
2008.
3. Model calculation by Liu et al in 2010 shows that
rice-fish agriculture
• increases net income per ha by 30%
• reduces the fertilizer application per ha by 60%
• Increases the ecological service value per ha by
100% compared with rice mono-cropping agriculture.

12. Success Story 2: Chiloé Island, Chile
• Labelling of GIAHS products, farms,
hotels, restaurants(registered through
the National Institute of Industrial
Property);
• Formulation of a national system for the
recognition of agricultural heritage sites
and support for their dynamic
conservation;
• Mechanisms to promote conservation of
agro-biodiversity: Government policies
and programs (include GIAHS principles
in the management of production
systems); private initiatives (such as
investments to improve productivity and
quality of products, through award of
funds and projects to small farmers);
others.

13. Opportunities for financial support to
GIAHS
List of participating
countries
Title GEF Grant
Chile, China, Algeria,
Peru, Philippines, Tunisia
CBPF: Conservation and Adaptive Management of Globally Important
Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS)
3,500,000
Bolivia
Conservation and Sustainable Use of Agro-biodiversity to Improve
Human Nutrition in Five Macro Eco-regions
2,600,000
Ecuador
Mainstreaming of the Use and Conservation of Agrobiodiversity in
Public Policies through Integrated Strategies and In situ
Implementation in three Provinces in the Andean Highlands
1,250,000
Philippines
Dynamic Conservation and Sustainable use of Agro-Biodiversity in
Traditional Agro-ecosystems of the Philippines.
2,182,631
Chile
Establish a Network of National Important Agricultural Heritage Sites
(NIAHS)
3,046,347
Peru
Sustainable Management of Agro-Biodiversity and Vulnerable
Ecosystems Recuperation in Peruvian Andean Regions Through
Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems GIAHS Approach
9,369,864
Mexico
Securing the future of global agriculture facing the threat of climate
change, conserving the genetic diversity of the traditional
agroecosystems of Mexico
5,329,452
Cuba
Introducción de nuevos enfoques agrícolas para la conservación y el
uso sostenible de la Biodiversidad (Introduction of new farming
methods for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity,
including plant and animal genetic resources, in production landscapes
in selected areas of Cuba.)
2,973,288

14. G20 Communiqué, 3 June 2016
8. We support efforts made by the international community to
exchange experiences, share knowledge and adopt
technology for sustainable agricultural development,
and replicate best farming practices conducive to the
protection and appropriate utilization of land, forests and water
resources. We welcome efforts to extend models
as appropriate for the conservation and sustainable use of
biodiversity, including inheriting and developing good
farming practices, such as the FAO’s Globally
Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) initiative.
(…)

15. For detailed information, www.fao.org/giahs/
Email: GIAHS-Secretariat@fao.org

16. Thank You!