An Overview of GIAHS
- GIAHS are much more than conventional heritage sites or protected landscapes. They are beautiful landscapes teeming with agricultural biodiversity, resilient ecosystems, and invaluable cultural heritage.
- Since 2005, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has designated 62 systems in 22 countries as agricultural heritage sites. As of June 2021, 15 new proposals from 9 different countries were under consideration.
- Importance of GIAHS – These traditional agricultural systems form the bedrock of modern and future agricultural innovations and technologies. Their cultural, ecological, and agricultural diversity is maintained as unique systems of agriculture in many parts of the world.
- Threat to GIAHS – GIAHS are under threat from multiple factors including climate change and increased competition for natural resources. Migration due to low economic viability has led to the abandonment of traditional farming practices, leading to the loss of endemic species and breeds.
As a UPSC aspirant, you may also find it interesting to read about The Great Barrier Reef , a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which is now being recommended to be categorised as an “in-danger” coral reef system due to the increasing threat to its existence. The Great Barrier Reef is one of the seven wonders of the natural world and the largest coral reef system globally.
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Aims of GIAHS
The main objectives of the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems are as follows:
- To leverage global and national recognition of the importance of agricultural heritage systems and institutional support for their safeguard
- Global recognition can be achieved with the support of government, UNESCO , FAO governing bodies, World Heritage Centre, and other partners.
- Capacity building of local farming communities and local and national institutions to conserve and manage GIAHS, generate income and add economic value to goods and services of such systems in a sustainable fashion.
- To promote enabling regulatory policies and incentive environments to support the conservation, evolutionary adaptation, and viability of GIAHS.
- Assessment of existing policies and incentive mechanisms , and identification of modalities to provide support for sustainable agricultural practices.
- Enhancing the benefits derived by local populations from conservation and sustainable use of their resources.
- To strengthen conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and natural resources , reducing vulnerability to climate change, enhancing sustainable agriculture, and rural development.
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Conservation Strategies for GIAHS
The conservation of Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems requires continuous agro-ecological and social innovation, along with the careful transmission of accumulated knowledge and experience across generations.
The GIAHS Programme promotes intervention strategies at three distinct levels to provide systematic support to the conservation and adaptive management of agricultural heritage systems:
- Global Level – The global level facilitates international recognition of GIAHS concept where globally significant agrobiodiversity exists. It also consolidates and disseminates lessons learned and best practices from project activities at the pilot country level.
- National Level – In pilot countries, project activities ensure the mainstreaming of the GIAHS concept in national sectoral and inter-sectoral plans and policies.
- Local/site Level – Project activities address conservation and adaptive management at the community level.
Agricultural Heritage Sites in India & Across the Globe
The distribution of GIAHS across different regions as of June 2021 is as follows:
| Region |
GIAHS Around the World |
| Africa |
3 Agricultural Heritage Systems: 1 in Kenya and 2 in Tanzania. |
| Asia and the Pacific |
40 Agriculture Heritage Systems: 1 in Bangladesh; 15 in China; 2 in India; 3 in Iran; 11 in Japan; 1 in the Philippines; 5 in the Republic of Korea; 1 in Sri Lanka; 1 in the Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
In this region, 10 proposals from 5 different countries are submitted to become GIAHS sites.
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| Europe and Central Asia |
7 Agriculture Heritage Sites: 2 in Italy; 4 in Spain; and 1 in Portugal. |
| Latin America and the Caribbean |
4 Agriculture Heritage Sites: 1 each in Brazil, Chile, Peru, and Mexico. |
| Near East and North Africa |
8 agricultural heritage sites: 2 in Morocco, 3 in Tunisia, and 1 each in the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, and Algeria. |
The three GIAHS in India are:
- Koraput Traditional Agriculture, Odisha.
- Kuttanad Below Sea Level Farming System, Kerala.
- Pampore Saffron Heritage, Jammu & Kashmir.
Candidates can get a comprehensive List of Agricultural Revolutions in India along with their highlights and specifications at the linked article.
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