Presentation on GIAHS initiative in China progresses and perspectives under Pillar 3.A at the 12th OECD Rural Development Conference on Delivering Well-being, 24-26 September 2019, Seoul Korea. Presentation by Min Qingwen, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China More information: https://www.oecd.org/rural/rural-development-conference/

1. GIAHS Initiative in China:
Progresses and Perspectives
Prof. Dr. MIN Qingwen
CAS-IGSNRR-CNACH
FAO-GIAHS-SAG

2. Global Issues
•Ecosystem (forest, wetlands, grassland, farmland, ...)
degradation, Environmental pollution, climate change,
biodiversity loss, land desertification, poverty and
hunger, …;
•Unsustainable agriculture and undermined family
agriculture and traditional agricultural systems; and
•Fast urbanization and dying village.

3. Origin of GIAHS
•In response to the global trends that undermine
family agriculture and traditional agricultural
systems, in 2002, during the World Summit on
Sustainable Development (WSSD, Johannesburg,
South Africa), FAO launched a Global Partnership
Initiative on conservation and adaptive
management of “Globally Important Agricultural
Heritage Systems (GIAHS)”.

4. GIAHS: Legacy for the future
• Integrated Agricultural, Forestry, Livestock and Fishery systems;
• Result of co-adaptation and co-evolution of plants, animals, humans
and landscape under specific environmental circumstances;
• Managed through highly adapted social and cultural practices and
institutions;
• Provide food and livelihood security and social, cultural and
ecosystem services;
• Important at local, national and global levels; and
• They are under threat.
Remarkable Land Use Systems and landscapes which are rich in
biological diversity evolving from the ingenious and dynamic
adaptation of a community/population to its environment and the
needs and aspirations for sustainable development (FAO, 2002)

5. GIAHS in China
• China is the earliest responder, active
participant, staunch supporter, important
promoter, successful practitioner and major
contributor of the GIAHS initiative.
• 2003-2005: Apply for the pilot site.
• 2005-2008: GEF project preparation
• 2009-2013: Project implementation
• 2014-2015: Transition from project
to programme
• 2016- Stable development

6. 2005
2010 2012
2011 2013
2014
2017
2018
15 GIAHS sites locate in 30 counties
of 13 provinces.
China’s GIAHS sites

7. Comparison between the number of candidates and that of designations.
Number of Candidates Number of Designations
First batch (2013) 43 19
Second batch (2014) 42 20
Third batch (2015) 42 23
Fourth batch (2017) 63 29
Total 190 91

8. • Policy Incentive Mechanism（政策激
励机制）;
• Industrial Promoting Mechanism（产
业促进机制）.
• Multi-Stakeholders Participation
Mechanism（多方参与机制）;
Three Mechanisms to Conserve GIAHS

9. Qingtian: A Small Mountainous County
• Nine mountains and half water
and half fields;
• Hometown of overseas Chinese;
• Hometown of Stone Carving;
and
• Hometown of field fish.

10. Longxian
Qingtian Rice Fish Culture
Systems: The most typical
representative
仁庄镇
邵山村
龙现村
方山乡
山口镇
鹤城镇
章旦乡
青 田 县
0.10 0.05
kilometers

11. The biodiversity features:
• 20 native rice varieties;
• 6 native breeds of carp;
• 4 species of Azolla;
• vegetables, fruits,
medicinal plants, forests

12. agri-cultural practices：
rich knowledge and skills in
integration of rice, fish and
other components for
mutualism and multiple
benefits, such as balanced
diet, pest control and recycle
of nutrition.

14. Qingtian Rice-Fish Culture System: one of the
first GIAHS pilot sites
• In 2005, Qingtian Rice-Fish Culture System was
designated as GIAHS pilot site.
• From 2009 to 2014, GEF project was implemented.
• In 2015, FAO/GEF-GIAHS Project China Pilot Summary
Meeting and Ten-Year Anniversary of Qingtian Rice-Fish
Culture System Designated as GIAHS Site was held in
Qingtian.

15. Policy Incentive Mechanism: Payment for
ecosystem & cultural services
• prevention of malaria;
• conservation of
biodiversity;
• pest regulation;
• Pollination;
• carbon and nutrient
cycles;
• soil and water
conservation and
restoration.

16. Industrial Promoting Mechanism: Integrated
Industry Development
• Favorable eco-environment and landscape;
• Strong national culture;
• Good quality of agri-products;
• Plenty of biological resources;
• Relative surplus labor forces;
• Exquisite traditional skills.
Resources viewing from industrial development

17. Cultural industry
Food processing
industry
Agricultural
production
Bio-resources
industry
Leisure agriculture
and rural tourism
Agro-product
processing industry
Multifunctional Agriculture in GIAHS site

18. • To create the GIAHS-brand of different products
(functional agri-products, distinctive agri-products,
special tourism routes, tourist souvenirs) ;
• To develop the high-end market;
• To absorb more labors;
• To increase farmers’ income.

19. Multi-Stakeholders Participation Mechanism：
Five-in-One Model
The Five-in-One Model:
• Governments (Central & local, different sectors);
• Multi-disciplinary Scientists (ecologists, agronomists,
economists, historians, planners, managers, …);
• Local communities &Farmers;
• Enterprises; and
• Social aspects (Media, educators, citizens, NGOs)

20. Perspectives
• Policy mainstream;
• census of agri-cultural heritage;
• conservation and development modes;
• farmer's main role and participation;
• monitoring and evaluation; and
• public awareness.

21. Thank you for your Attention