A Review of the Progress in Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) Monitoring

Wenjun Jiao (), Xiao Yang and Qingwen Min
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Wenjun Jiao: Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
Xiao Yang: Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
Qingwen Min: Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 16, 1-16

Abstract: In order to protect traditional agricultural systems of global importance, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) launched an initiative for the conservation of Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) in 2002. After nearly two decades of development, the number of GIAHS has increased from the initial 5 in 2005 to the current 65 in 22 countries around the world. Despite the remarkable increase in the number of GIAHS, many countries are now facing the difficult task of dynamic conservation and adaptive management of GIAHS. As an important element of heritage management, monitoring plays an important role in improving the level of heritage management. Scientific and effective monitoring can not only achieve the conservation of the heritage itself and the maintenance of its value, but also the sustainable development of the heritage site. However, FAO did not put forward mandatory requirements for GIAHS monitoring, nor did it issue any guiding document on GIAHS monitoring, but left it to various countries to explore their own GIAHS monitoring. In this context, the paper systematically sorts out the theoretical research and practical exploration of GIAHS monitoring conducted by different countries and research institutions, comparing and analyzing the differences between the theoretical design of monitoring GIAHS themselves and that of GIAHS action plan monitoring, as well as the differences in practical exploration of GIAHS monitoring among China, South Korea, Japan and Portugal. This paper argues that countries and research institutions face common problems in the research and application of GIAHS monitoring, which are: (1) low enthusiasm of heritage sites about participation; (2) lack of legal and financial support; and (3) lack of technical support and guidance. To further promote GIAHS monitoring globally and better promote dynamic conservation and adaptive management of GIAHS, this paper proposes that FAO should cooperate with various countries to establish a unified, scientific and efficient GIAHS monitoring system, including: (1) clarifying monitoring requirements and formulating monitoring guidelines; (2) improving the management system and establishing incentive mechanisms; (3) promoting multi-stakeholder participation and strengthening technical training.

Keywords: Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS); action plan; monitoring; evaluation; indicator system; implementation mechanism (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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