Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) Approach: Experiences from Latin America

Transcription

1 Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) Approach: Experiences from Latin America 13 February 2018 Yoshihide Endo, GIAHS Coordinator, Climate, Biodiversity, Land and Water Department, FAO 1

2 I. GIAHS Concept and Objectives

3 GIAHS Programme 1. GIAHS sites have been formed in harsh geographic and environmental conditions and transferred by farmers from generation to generation FAO GIAHS programme is to identify and designate the remarkable agricultural systems with specific features Purpose of the GIAHS programme: 1) To Achieve Dynamic Conservation of the sites, namely: (i) Conservation, (ii) Adaptation to contemporary conditions and (iii) Sustainable development of the site: 2) To showcase successful experiences for sustainable agriculture 3

4 Dynamic Conservation Farmers, Local Communities Action Plan should be made to achieve Dynamic Conservation Policy Makers, Private Sector, NGOs, Academia Maintenance of the Core Elements of GIAHS Adaptation and Social/Economic Development Implementation of Measures in Action Plan Monitoring of its Impacts Correction Evaluation

5 The Nature of Dynamic Conservation Traditional Agricultural System New and Innovative Elements Fortified Agricultural System While Maintaining GIAHS Features 5

6 What GIAHS should further achieve as FAO Programme GIAHS should: Be a model for sustainable agriculture; Prove the effectiveness of traditional knowledge Disseminate their successful experiences of good agricultural practices, ingenious skills and technologies to other agricultural area

7 Possible Measures for Dynamic Conservation 1. Awareness Enhancement/Information Dissemination of GIAHS 2. Strengthening the Systems and Framework for Action Plan 3. Improved Management of Agricultural Resources 4. Conservation and Sustainable use of Agrobiodiversity 5. Improvement of agricultural production methods 6. Sales Promotion of the Agricultural Products 7. Promotion of tourism/cultural activities/local cuisine 8. Establishment of Finance Supply Mechanisms 9. Enhanced participation of rural residents in decision making 10. Empowerment of women in the rural community

8 Nationally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (NIHAS) Several countries established NIAHS (China, Japan, Korea); Some countries are planning to introduce it; NIAHS is useful to draw national attention of sustainable agriculture, traditional knowledge, agroecology and agrobiodiversity.

9 Country Proposal Explanation of the Entire System (Significance) Description of Five Criteria Action Plan GIAHS Designation Process Scientific Advisory Group (SAG) Evaluation and Decision Designation as GIAHS More Information Declination Appropriate Government Channel GIAHS Secretariat Review Field Survey

10 II. GIAHS and Climate Change

11 Definition of GIAHS Remarkable land use systems and landscapes which are rich in globally significant biological diversity evolving from the coadaptation of a community with its environment and its needs and aspirations for sustainable development Many agricultural systems in GIAHS have achieved high level of harmonization with the environment through: - Low level use of chemical inputs and energy consumption - Good soil management practices - Ingenious knowledge to adapt to changing environment Elements for Mitigation and Adaptation for climate change

12 Five Criteria for GIAHS Designation 1. Food and livelihood security 2. Agro-biodiversity 3. Local and Traditional Knowledge systems Time tested technologies and practices 4.Cultures, value systems and social organisations Institutional systems to overcome issues and challenges 5. Landscapes and Seascapes Features 1 1) Resilience against extreme weather conditions 2) Risk aversion capacity against crop failures 3) Agricultural practices contributing to mitigation

13 Case 1: Floating Garden in Bangladesh Use invasive plants and other organic material to produce the floating bedgarden Multi-crop production and use of the degraded floating bed as fertilizer Require low energy input Result of adaptation by the farmers to the floods and arable land pressure

14 Case 2: Agroforestry on the slope of Mt. Kilimanjaro (Tanzania) Mix cropping system featured with several layers of vegetation - Endemic timbers, banana, coffee/fruit trees as well as staple crops Provide natural sun shades and micro-climate for favourable conditions to all crop production and soil management Source: Hemp, A., Biodiverse Conserve (2006) 15: The banana forests of Kilimanjaro Biodiversity and Conservation of the agroforestry system of the Chagga Home garden

15 Case 3 : Tank System in Sri Lanka Human made water reservoirs for agriculture well linked with those located downstream, as a result of a long term struggle for insufficient amount of water availability for rice production Various components of a village tank (Dharmasena, 2010b) Schematic representation of a tank cascade system (Source: Brigitta Schütt et. al. 2013)

16 Case 4: Hani Rice Terrace (China) Land management with integration of forests, habitations and rice paddy fields = highly adapted water management in dry season threatened area Maintenance of locally adapted rice varieties Source: Dr. JIAO Wenjun Adaptation to harsh dry season and mountainous areas into highly productive and sustainable production system

17 Case 5: Oases systems in Maghreb region No irrigation system in the desert No need to use large machineries : use of wind to manage cavities Multi-cropped system complying all the organic requirements Adapted way of life to the Saharian desert High adaption to arid areas with water and sand management Adaptation to desertification issue

18 Case 6: Agro-Ecological production System Zhejiang Huzhou Mulberry-dyke & Fish-pond system

19 Case 7: Osaki Kodo in Japan: Excellent water management system that can respond to drought, floods and low temperature 19

20 Case 8: Agro-biodiversity in Chiloe islands (Chile) Many valuable endemic varieties of potatoes, garlic and sheep Famers long term efforts for risk aversion against fluctuation of climate conditions

21 Case 9: Andean Agriculture (Peru) Unique Andean crops with variety of endemic species are still under cultivation Traditional technologies for land and water management can bee seen (terraces, camellones ridges, reservoir of rainfall water, channels)

22 Case 9: Chinampas in Mexico 22

23 Designated GIAHS sites in the World 47 Sites in 19 Countries are designated as GIAHS sites: Mexico (1) Spain (2) (14) (9) 3 Egypt(1) Sri Lanka(1)

24

25 Achievements of GIAHS Programme Identification of GIAHS sites : 47 Sites in 19 Countries Linkage to FAO Strategic Framework with clear operational procedures and independent scientific advise Increased awareness of importance of GIAHS GIAHS recognizes farmers knowledge and practices related to the conservation of biodiversity and promotion of sustainable agricultural production and eco-services for present and future generations Provided model for agricultural development GIAHS sites have become a basis for introducing effective measures for agricultural, social, economic development through branding of local products, establishing links to agri-tourism and increased investment in the sites

26 Alignments to SDGs and FAO s objectives Related Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development Goals Link to FAO s Strategic Objectives (SO) GIAHS contributes to SO2: Make agriculture, forestry and fisheries more productive and sustainable.

27 Future Prospects for GIAHS in the Context of Climate Change 1 Importance of Scientific Research c Scientific analysis on the functions and the effectiveness of traditional knowledge, technologies and practices in the GIAHS sites to achieve effective adaptation and mitigation outcomes. c 1. Based on this research, we can modify and strengthen the agricultural technologies and practices during the process of Dynamic Conservation to better address climate change: One Option is to supplement traditional knowledge with modern technologies 2. Scientific analysis will also facilitate dissemination of successful experiences to address climate change in the GIAHS sites to other farming area.

28 The ultimate/comprehensive theme for research: What are the best production method and combination of resources, based on the traditional agricultural system in a GIAHS site, to achieve the multiple goals of increasing production, addressing climate change as well as in harmony with the environment. Based on this research, we can modify and strengthen the agricultural technologies and practices during the process of Dynamic Conservation to achieve better outcomes

29 Thank you for your attention. Thank you for your attention.