Post on 30-May-2020
Views, Experiences and Best Practices as an example of possible options for
the national implementation of Article 9 of the International Treaty
Note by the Secretary
At its second meeting of the Ad hoc Technical Expert Group on Farmers’ Rights (AHTEG), the
Expert Group agreed on a revised version of the template for collecting information on examples
of national measures, best practices and lessons learned from the realization of Farmers’ Rights
This document presents the updated information on best practices and measures of
implementing Article 9 of the International Treaty submitted by World Agricultural Heritage
Foundation (WAHF) on 26 June 2019.
The submission is presented in the form and language in which it was received.
Measures, Best Practices and Lessons Learned from the Realization of Farmers’ Rights
as set out in Article 9 of the International Treaty
Submitted by WAHF (measure 1)
Basic information
Title of measure/practice: Capacity building of small-scale farming/indigenous communities to
manage and conserve Agricultural Heritage Systems
Date of submission:
Name(s) of country/countries in which the measure/practice is taking place: Tunisia, Philippines
and China
Responsible institution/organization (name, address, website (if applicable), e-mail address,
telephone number(s) and contact person):
- Dr. Parviz Koohafkan, World Agricultural Heritage Foundation, C/o CREA, 2 Via dela
Navicella, Rome, https: www.worldagriculturalheritage.org Phone: +3911368821
- Ms. Nadia Bergamini, Bioversity International, Viale dei tre Denari 472/A - 00054
Fiumicino (RM) https://www.bioversityinternational.org/, Phone: +39 06 61181
- Association pour la Sauvegarde de la Médina de Gafsa (ASM – Gafsa), Université de
Gafsa, Centre Régionale de Recherche de l’Agriculture Oasien (CRRAO),
http://asmgafsa.org.tn.ourssite.com/
- Prof. Teresita Borromeo, University of the Philippines at Los Baños (UPLB), Brenda
Saquing, Municipal Local Government of Kiangan, Ifugao Province
- Prof. Qingwen Min, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources sciences
http://igsnrr.cas.cn/ue/ne/
Type of institution/organization (categories): Non Governmental Organizations, Local
government units, Academic institution, CGIAR
Collaborating/supporting institutions/organizations/actors, if applicable (name, address, website (if
applicable), e-mail address, telephone number(s)) : same as above
Description of the examples
Mandatory information:1
Short summary to be put in the inventory (max. 200 words) including:
Based on the project Underpinning the Resiliency of Agricultural Heritage Systems and Rewarding
Smallholders, Family Farmers and Indigenous Communities, funded by IFAD and implemented by World
Agricultural Heritage Foundation (WAHF) in collaboration with ASM GAFSA (Tunisia), UPLB and
Kiangan Municipality (Philippines) and IGSNRR (China). The project was aimed at building the capacities
of GIAHS custodians to manage and conserve their agricultural heritage systems. The project helps GIAHS
communities in China, Philippines and Tunisia, to also address the governance of the respective GIAHS
sites. In particular, the project invested on assessing, documentation and knowledge sharing and
dissemination between and among the members of the farming communities.
o Implementing entity and partners: please see above.
o Start year: under this project funding – 2016 to date
o Objective(s): The objective of the project is to promote recognition and empowerment
of smallholder, family farmers – notably women, youth and indigenous peoples.
o Summary of core components: The project has promoted capacity development in the
three countries, such as:
- Training of farmers and local custodians to assess, monitor and manage the resiliency
of their respective GIAHS sites, which among others, highlighting agroecological and
biodiverse production as an important means to cope with climate change.
- Documenting of GIAHS knowledge systems’ and best practices in conserving and
managing GIAHS sites particularly the biodiversity and genetic resources associated to
it
- Networking and social media application (AgLegacy app) to share and disseminate
knowledge and other relevant information between and among farmers to strengthen
management and conservation of GIAHS sites
o Key outcomes
- Understanding of the inherent values of traditional agriculture and associated
ecosystem goods and services, in particular the conservation of biodiversity and
genetic resources for food and agriculture and the important role of farmers and
indigenous communities.
- Networking, sharing and exchange of knowledge between and among farmers irough
conventional practice and through social media
1 This mandatory information is required in order for the measure/practice to be included in the Inventory.
o Lessons learned (if applicable)
- The project promotes various capacity building activities for the communities and the
AgLegacy app, serves as among others, an ideal platform for promoting valuation and
protection of traditional knowledge systems related to crop genetic resources between and
among farmers in Gafsa, Tunisia
- Empowering small scale farmers and indigenous communities particularly those engage in
traditional agriculture offers lots of potentials, e.g. to promote in situ, on farm
conservation of crop genetic resources and other wild crops for food and agriculture.It also
offers possibilities, to revitalize the dying wisdom of farming and the cultivation of the
disappearing crops. When farmers understood the values of the traditional crops, and
enable them to turn the challenges into opportunities to improve their livelihoods, not only
the crops are being conserved, but also their children and other youth could opt to remain
in the rural areas.
- The social media AgLegacy also serves as the medium for farmers to participate in
decision-making, and facilitated knowledge sharing and learning.
- Recognition of the role of farmers in conserving and sustaining the crop genetic resources,
and their traditional knowledge systems.
- Recognition of their GIAHS, is a recognition of farmers themselves and gives back the
pride and confidence of farmers.
- Allow farmers to be involved and to take part in decision-making.
- To promote and encourage farmers, it needs to be mainstreamed in the existing policies
and programs at all levels possible, coupled with demonstration activities that farmers
themselves and other stakeholders would see both with tangible and intangible benefits.
Brief history (including starting year), as appropriate: WAHF was established in 2013 after my
retirement in FAO, with the aim to continue my advocacy for the recognition of/and dynamic
conservation of GIAHS.
Core components of the measure/practice (max 200 words):
The project has promoted capacity development in the three countries, such as:
- Training of farmers and local custodians to assess, monitor and manage the resiliency
of their respective GIAHS sites, which among others, highlighting agroecological and
biodiverse production as an important means to cope with climate change.
- Documenting of GIAHS knowledge systems’ and best practices in conserving and
managing GIAHS sites particularly the biodiversity and genetic resources associated to
it
- Networking and social media application (AgLegacy app) to share and disseminate
knowledge and other relevant information between and among farmers to strengthen
management and conservation of GIAHS sites
Description of the context and the history of the measure/practice is taking place (political, legal and
economic framework conditions for the measure/practice) (max 200 words)
The submitted measure has a long narrative, which was a result of over centuries, generations of
farmers, fisher folks and herders have developed complex, diverse and locally adapted agricultural
system2, managed with time-tested, ingenious combinations of techniques and practices. Building
on generations of accumulated knowledge and experiences, these ingenious “agri-cultural” heritage
systems reflect the diversity of cultures and civilizations but also the evolution of humanity. They
have resulted not only in outstanding rural landscapes, maintenance of globally significant
agricultural biodiversity, resilient ecosystems and valuable cultural inheritance but, above all, in
the sustained provision of multiple goods and services, food and livelihood security for millions of
poor and small scale farmers.
Such agricultural and agro-silvo-pastoral systems can be found, in particular, in highly populated
regions or in areas where the population has, for various reasons, had to establish complex and
innovative land-use/management practices, for example, due to geographic isolation, fragile
ecosystems, political marginalization, limited natural resources, and/or extreme climatic
conditions. These systems reflect often rich and sometimes unique agricultural biodiversity, within
and between species but also at ecosystem and landscape level.
The dynamic human management and interactions with nature that allow the maintenance of
biodiversity and essential ecosystem services are characterized by continuous technological and
cultural innovation, transfers between generations and exchange with other farming communities
and ecosystems. The wealth and breadth of accumulated knowledge systems and experience in the
management and use of natural resources is a globally significant resource that needs to be
preserved and allowed to evolve.
The dynamic conservation management of these agricultural heritage systems brings lessons
learned and lighthouses of sustainable agriculture and rural development. In particular, reminding
the important contribution of local and indigenous farming communities in the conservation,
development and management of crop genetic resources for food and agriculture, which is at the
preamble of the International Treaty, is one of the foundation when the GIAHS project was
conceptualized.
This measure supports the implementation of Farmers’ Rights to promote the revitalization of
traditional agriculture by continue conserving and sustaining the conservation of agricultural
biodiversity, and valuing traditional knowledge systems. The project distils key factors, functions,
lessons and practices that can be transferred and scale out to a larger number of agrarian landscapes
and ecosystems facing similar threats and with untapped potential. New institutional practices such
as adding values to crop products, reviving traditional, indigenous crops, and the use of social
media in sharing and disseminating knowledge systems.
To which provision(s) of Article 9 of the International Treaty does this measure relate
Art. 9.1
Art. 9.2a
Art. 9.2b
2 A broad concept of agriculture is applied, including cropping, animal husbandry, forestry, swidden agriculture, fisheries, hunting,
gathering and combinations.
Art. 9.2c
Art. 9.3
Other information, if applicable
Please indicate which category of the Inventory is most relevant for the proposed measure, and which
other categories are also relevant (if any):
No. Category Most
relevant3
Also
relevant4
1 Recognition of local and indigenous communities’, farmers’
contributions to conservation and sustainable use of PGRFA, such
as awards and recognition of custodian/guardian farmers
x
2 Financial contributions to support farmers conservation and
sustainable use of PGRFA such as contributions to benefit-sharing
funds
3 Approaches to encourage income-generating activities to support
farmers’ conservation and sustainable use of PGRFA
4 Catalogues, registries and other forms of documentation of PGRFA
and protection of traditional knowledge
x
5 In-situ/on-farm conservation and management of PGRFA, such as
social and cultural measures, community biodiversity management
and conservation sites
x
6 Facilitation of farmers’ access to a diversity of PGRFA through
community seed banks5, seed networks and other measures
improving farmers’ choices of a wider diversity of PGRFA.
7 Participatory approaches to research on PGRFA, including
characterization and evaluation, participatory plant breeding and
variety selection
8 Farmers’ participation in decision-making at local, national and
sub-regional, regional and international levels
9 Training, capacity development and public awareness creation x
10 Legal measures for the implementation of Farmers’ Rights, such as
legislative measures related to PGRFA.
11 Other measures / practices
3 Please select only one category that is most relevant, under which the measure will be listed.
4 Please select one or several categories that may also be relevant (if applicable).
5 Including seed houses.
In case you selected ‘other measures’, would you like to suggest a description of this measure, e.g. as
a possible new category? ____________________________________________________________
Objective(s)
Target group(s) and numbers of involved and affected farmers6 : Farming communities and
indigenous peoples in the Philippines; minority groups in China;
Location(s) and geographical outreach: Gafsa, Tunisa; Ifugao Province, Philippines; Qingtian County
plus several GIAHS sites in China
Resources used for implementation of the measure/practice: External funding from bilateral
institutions
How has the measure/practice affected the conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources
for food and agriculture?
- By jointly assessing and documenting the factors and functionalities of socio ecological and
resiliencies of traditional agriculture, and the holistic approach to biodiverse crop production
along their own customary management systems
- Awareness of farmers about the importance of their traditional knowledge and the diversity of
crops which makes them more resilient to cope with adverse climatic conditions and/or pest
and diseases infestation
- Sharing, exchange of knowledge, and participation to decision-making that affects the integrity
and sustainability of their traditional agriculture which directly impacting conservation and
development crop genetic resources of social, health and economic importance
- Farmers’ socially binding together and sharing information about their crops and cultivation
management and other farm issues through the AgLegacy social media, helping them to use
and benefit from the new gadgets and communication technology tools
Please describe the achievements of the measure/ practice so far (including quantification) (max 200
words)
Other national level instruments that are linked to the measure/practice
- Compliance to other international agreements
Are you aware of any other international agreements or programs that are relevant for this
measure/practice?
- Nagoya Protocol
- FAO GIAHS Programme is now covering 57 sites in over 25 countries
(http://www.fao.org/giahs/giahsaroundtheworld/designated-sites/en/)
Other issues you wish to address, that have not yet been covered, to describe the measure/practice
Lessons learned
6 Any classification, e.g. of the types of farmer addressed, may be country-specific.
Describe lessons learned which may be relevant for others who wish to do the same or similar
measures/practices (max 250 words).
What challenges encountered along the way (if applicable) (max 200 words)
What would you consider conditions for success, if others should seek to carry out such a measure
or organize such an activity? (max 100 words)
- The project promotes various capacity building activities for the communities and the AgLegacy
app, serves as among others, an ideal platform for promoting valuation and protection of
traditional knowledge systems related to crop genetic resources
- Empowering small scale farmers and indigenous communities particularly those engage in
traditional agriculture offers lots of potentials to promote in situ, on farm conservation of crop
genetic resources and other wild crops for food and agriculture.It also offers possibilities, to
revitalize the dying wisdom of farming and cultivation of the disappearing crops, when farmers
understood the values of the crops, and enable them to turn the challenges into opportunities to
improve their livelihoods, not only the crops are being conserved, but also their children and
other youth could opt to remain in the rural areas.
- The social media AgLegacy also serves as the medium for farmers to participate in decision-
making, and facilitated knowledge sharing and learning.
- Recognition of the role of farmers in conserving and sustaining the crop genetic resources, and
their traditional knowledge systems.
- Recognition of their GIAHS, is a recognition of farmers themselves and gives back the pride and
confidence of farmers.
- Allow farmers to be involved and to take part in decision-making.
- To promote and encourage farmers, it needs to be mainstreamed in the existing policies and
programs at all levels possible, coupled with demonstration activities that farmers themselves and
other stakeholders would see both with tangible and intangible benefits.
Further information
Link(s) to further information about the measure/practice
See Tunisia, Philippines and China country reports: https://www.bioversityinternational.org/
Measures, Best Practices and Lessons Learned from the Realization of Farmers’ Rights
as set out in Article 9 of the International Treaty
Submitted by WAHF (measure 2)
Basic information
Title of measure/practice : Recognition of farming communities through Globally Important
Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS)
Date of submission:
Name(s) of country/countries in which the measure/practice is taking place: Islamic Republic of Iran
Responsible institution/organization (name, address, website (if applicable), e-mail address, telephone
number(s) and contact person)
Research Department with the Agricultural Planning, Economic and Rural development Research,
Ministry of Agriculture
Contact person: Ali Kiani Rad (Ph.D.)
Agricultural Planning, Economic and Rural Development Research Institute (APERDRI), Ministry of
Agriculture Jahad, No.5, Roudsar St., South Shahid Azodi (Aban) Ave., Karimkhan-e-Zand Blvd.,
TEHRAN-Islamic Republic of IRAN
E-mail: a.kianirad@agri-peri.ac.ir, akianirad@gmail.com
Website: www.agri-peri.ac.ir
Telephone number: +98-21-88803676
Type of institution/organization (categories): Government
Collaborating/supporting institutions/organizations/actors, if applicable (name, address, website (if
applicable), e-mail address, telephone number(s))
Farming communities, World Agricultural Heritage Foundation (WAHF), country and province
government units
Description of the examples
Mandatory information:1
Short summary to be put in the inventory (max. 200 words) including:
o Implementing entity and partners: see above
o Start year: Since 2005 (research study of traditional systems in the Islamic Republic of Iran)
1 This mandatory information is required in order for the measure/practice to be included in the Inventory.
o Objective(s): To safeguard and dynamically conserved agricultural heritage systems and its
goods and services, and to promotion recognition of farming communities and indigenous
peoples who are the custodians of this heritage agriculture.
o Summary of core components: Recognition of “farmers and indigenous communities”
from ancient times to present day, and to recognize their important contribution to
conservation and development of crop and animal genetic resources, preservation of
cultural diversity, not only just recognition but to leverage support for these heritage
agriculture to continue to evolve so to provide the goods and services. o Key outcomes:
In Iran, to date, FAO recognized three GIAHS Sites: (i) Pomegranate Qanat irrigated
Agricultural Heritage System; (ii) Malayer Grape Production Agricultural Heritage System and
(iii) Saffron Qanat-based Agricultural Heritage System.
o Lessons learned (if applicable)
Summary to be put in the Inventory
The Agricultural Planning, Economic and Rural Development Research Institute (APERDRI), a public
research institute under the Ministry of Agriculture, together with country and province government units,
farming communities and the World Agricultural Heritage Foundation (WAHF), have engaged in
identifying Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) in Iran. In many countries,
specific agricultural systems and landscapes have been created, shaped and maintained by generations of
farmers and herders, based on diverse natural resources, species and their interactions and using locally
adapted, distinctive and often ingenious combinations of management practices and techniques. These
ingenious agricultural systems have resulted not only in outstanding aesthetic beauty, maintenance of
globally significant agricultural biodiversity, resilient ecosystems, ingenious adaptations and valuable
cultural inheritance but, above all, in the sustained provision of multiple goods and services, food and
livelihood security and a way of life . The overall goal of GIAHS is to is to mobilize global recognition
and national support for this important contribution of farmers and indigenous communities, from ancient
times to present day, so that they can continue to provide the global, national and local benefits derived
through these systems. Iran is a country with a long history of farming; it has been argued that dryland
farming first evolved in the western part of the country about 10,000 years ago, simultaneously with the
domestication of goats and sheep. After identifying agricultural system that could qualify as GIAHS,
Iran’s Ministry of Agriculture submitted to FAO a preliminary list of such systems, of which three
systems, to date, has been recognized as GIAHS sites: (i) Saffron Qanat-based Agricultural Heritage
System, (ii) Pomegranate Qanat irrigated Agricultural Heritage System; and (iii) Malayer Grape
Production Agricultural Heritage System. This recognition of GIAHS sites represents the great
achievements of /and agricultural knowledge systems of the farming communities.
Brief history (including starting year), as appropriate:
The GIAHS concept was formulated in 2002, in FAO, and initially started as a project with funding
from the Global Environment Facility, IFAD, National Governments of pilot countries, Germany and
other organizations. After 10 years of piloting designation and dynamic conservation, due to positive
results an doutcomes, it gained support from many countries and was adopted as an FAO Programme
in 2015. Then, the designation of sites has continued.
Core components of the measure/practice (max 200 words)
The components of this measure includes studying and documenting the traditional yet evolving
agricultural practices. It involves assessing the characteristics of the farming system based on five
general criteria, such as their global (and local, national) importance to: (1) food and livelihood
security; (2) agricultural biodiversity of global significance; (3) local and traditional knowledge
systems; (4) cultures, value systems and social organization; and (5) remarkable landscapes features.
After documentation and assessment, if passes through this criteria, the recognition of the farming
system as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems under the FAO. And this recognition is
dedicated to the farmers nurturing conservation of agricultural biodiversity of local and global
importance to food security; preservation of traditional knowledge and cultural diversity.
Description of the context and the history of the measure/practice is taking place (political, legal and
economic framework conditions for the measure/practice) (max 200 words)
In many countries specific agricultural systems and landscapes have been created, shaped and maintained
by generations of farmers and herders based on diverse natural resources, species and their interactions and
using locally adapted, distinctive and often ingenious combinations of management practices and
techniques. Building on dynamic local knowledge systems and experience, these ingenious agricultural
systems reflect the evolution of humanity, the diversity of its knowledge, and its profound harmony with
nature. They have resulted not only in outstanding aesthetic beauty, maintenance of globally significant
agricultural biodiversity, resilient ecosystems, ingenious adaptations and valuable cultural inheritance but,
above all, in the sustained provision of multiple goods and services, food and livelihood security and a way
of life.
The overall goal of the Globally Important Ingenious Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) initiative2 is
to promote recognition and safeguard traditional agriculture and their associated landscapes, agricultural
biodiversity and knowledge systems, through mobilizing global recognition and national support for such
systems so that the global, national and local benefits derived through these systems will continue.
During the process of the GIAHS concept development, around 200 cases of potential traditional
agricultural heritage systems were documented, particularly those in countries with long history of
agriculture, such as Iran, Mexico, Peru, Chile, India, Philippines, China, Algeria, Tunisia, and others,
including the ones that are listed in UNESCO List of Cultural and Natural Heritage. It has been argued that
dryland farming first evolved in the western part of the country about 10 000 years ago, simultaneously
with the domestication of animals (goats and sheep). Farmers have managed their traditional
agroecosystems for centuries by focusing on sustaining nature and environment. Before, farmers relied on
nature’s bounty and locally available natural resources to maintain soil fertility and to combat pests and
diseases. The farming systems evolved common principles and processes of sustainability, such as holistic
management and use of natural resources, optimize use of local resources with no or low external inputs,
consideration of genetic and physical diversity, protection and conservation of soil, risk minimization and
local site-specific techniques. Traditional agriculture formed the foundation of farming and resulted in a
2 The origin of GIAHS concept was developed and spearheaded by Parviz Koohafkan, during his career in FAO until his
retirement. The GIAHS initiative was made successful through collaboration of interested countries and through the funding from
the multilateral institutions (Global Environment Facility, IFAD, bilateral and unilateral institutions). When he retired in 2012,
many GIAHS sites had been already designated, due to GIAHS project success and impacts at local at national levels, the FAO
adopted the GIAHS initiative as an FAO Regular Programme during the FAO Conference in June 2015.
tremendous accumulation of indigenous knowledge in farming practices and food production, based on
integrated crop production and livestock grazing, and ingeniously farming the most difficult and
disadvantage ecological environment.
Against this backdraft, the idea of recognizing the work of “farmers and indigenous communities” from
ancient times to present day, and to recognize this important contribution, not only just recognition but to
leverage support for these heritage to continue evolve and provide the goods and services.
To which provision(s) of Article 9 of the International Treaty does this measure relate
Art. 9.1
Art. 9.2a
Art. 9.2b
Art. 9.2c
Art. 9.3
Other information, if applicable
Please indicate which category of the Inventory is most relevant for the proposed measure, and which
other categories are also relevant (if any):
No. Category Most
relevant3
Also
relevant4
1 Recognition of local and indigenous communities’, farmers’
contributions to conservation and sustainable use of PGRFA, such
as awards and recognition of custodian/guardian farmers
x
2 Financial contributions to support farmers conservation and
sustainable use of PGRFA such as contributions to benefit-sharing
funds
3 Approaches to encourage income-generating activities to support
farmers’ conservation and sustainable use of PGRFA
x
4 Catalogues, registries and other forms of documentation of PGRFA
and protection of traditional knowledge
5 In-situ/on-farm conservation and management of PGRFA, such as
social and cultural measures, community biodiversity management
and conservation sites
x
3 Please select only one category that is most relevant, under which the measure will be listed.
4 Please select one or several categories that may also be relevant (if applicable).
6 Facilitation of farmers’ access to a diversity of PGRFA through
community seed banks5, seed networks and other measures
improving farmers’ choices of a wider diversity of PGRFA.
7 Participatory approaches to research on PGRFA, including
characterization and evaluation, participatory plant breeding and
variety selection
8 Farmers’ participation in decision-making at local, national and
sub-regional, regional and international levels
9 Training, capacity development and public awareness creation x
10 Legal measures for the implementation of Farmers’ Rights, such as
legislative measures related to PGRFA.
11 Other measures / practices
In case you selected ‘other measures’, would you like to suggest a description of this measure, e.g. as
a possible new category? ____________________________________________________________
Objective(s): see above
Target group(s) and numbers of involved and affected farmers6
Farming and indigenous communities with heritage agriculture
Location(s) and geographical outreach
National, and currently 3 designated GIAHS sites in 3 provinces
1. Pomegranate Qanat irrigated Agricultural Heritage System in Kashan Township, Isfahan
Province
2. Saffron Qanat-based Agricultural Heritage System in Khorasan Razavi province and Grape
3. Production Agricultural Heritage System in Jowsan Valley, Hamedan Province.
Resources used for implementation of the measure/practice: National
How has the measure/practice affected the conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources
for food and agriculture?
- Farming communities – as guardians of their own agricultural heritage are valuing the conservation
and sustainable use of crops and genetic resources.
- The protection of traditional knowledge related to traditional agriculture and food productions
becomes more apparent.
Please describe the achievements of the measure/ practice so far (including quantification) (max 200
words)
Other national level instruments that are linked to the measure/practice:
National Seed Policy Document
5 Including seed houses.
6 Any classification, e.g. of the types of farmer addressed, may be country-specific.
Plant Variety Protection Act, 2003
Intangible Heritage
Are you aware of any other international agreements or programs that are relevant for this
measure/practice?
Nagoya Protocol
UNESCO Convention
Other issues you wish to address, that have not yet been covered, to describe the measure/practice
Lessons learned
Describe lessons learned which may be relevant for others who wish to do the same or similar
measures/practices (max 250 words).
What challenges encountered along the way (if applicable) (max 200 words)
What would you consider conditions for success, if others should seek to carry out such a measure
or organize such an activity? (max 100 words)
– Iran has a long history of traditional ecological agriculture, stretching back 10 000 years. The
recognition of many of these ancient agriculture systems and its farming communities surely benefit
the global, national and local farming communities, in particular, it demonstrated the realization of
Article 9 of the International Treaty, recognizing the role of farmers in conserving, developing and
managing crop genetic resources and associated biodiversity and traditional knowledge systems
– Recognition of agricultural heritage sites promotes the implementation of the Treaty objectives:
recognition of the important role farmers and indigenous communities play in the conservation,
development and management of crop genetic resources for food and agriculture; protection of
traditional knowledge systems; and empowering farmers and promotes their participation to
decision-making.
– Designation processes of GIAHS by FAO and the lack or limited technical support from the
current GIAHS Secretariat, and the lack of coordination and harmonization of implementation of
FAO programmes that are operating independently – posing challenge to achieve full results.
Further information
Link(s) to further information about the measure/practice
https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/partnership/?p=2309 initiative
GEF project data base:https://www.thegef.org/project/cbpf-conservation-and-adaptive-management-
globally-important-agricultural-heritage-systems
FAO GIAHS website: http://www.fao.org/giahs/giahsaroundtheworld/designated-sites/en/
WAHF website: http://www.worldagriculturalheritage.org/AgLegacy