Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS)

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Videos

30/04/2020

L’Horta de Valencia covers a surface of 28km2 including the Historical Huerta and a section of the Albufera National Park. It is formed by a systems of fields irrigated by the Turia river that has maintain its traditional features in a densely populated coastal region.

02/03/2018

The Valle Salado of Añana is an outstanding example of the interaction between humans and the natural environment in the creation of a salt producing agricultural system whose origin dates to Prehistory, more than 7,000 years ago, and which in the 21st century continues to enjoy great vitality.

05/12/2017

Called Black Dragon, Batdam is the result of the ingenuity of Jeju inhabitants to survive in a windy volcanic Island. Utilizing the stones, it is 22,000 kilometer of fences which have been built since 1000 years.

19/06/2020

In the Republic of Korea, the Damyang Bamboo Field is a unique agricultural heritage system. This site hosts 34% of Korean bamboo plants, combining traditional knowledge and innovation.

26/06/2020

In the Republic of Korea, the Damyang Bamboo Field is a unique agricultural heritage system. This site hosts 34% of Korean bamboo plants, combining traditional knowledge and innovation.

16/01/2013

Discover more about this amazing site on this website. Blessings from the forest: The shiitake homeland. Trees producing food, contribuiting to global food security.

21/05/2015

The landscapes of the Nagara River and ayu are not just the pride and joy of the local people, but essential to their daily lives as a source of drinking and irrigation water as well.

05/12/2017

Rice Terraces made of stone.Between the 16th and the mid-20th centuries, unique rice paddies have been constructed combining soil and water management by re-engineering the natural environment in areas with disadvantageous conditions.

23/06/2017

The history of the Nishi-Awa Steep Slope Land Agriculture System is said to date back to shifting cultivation (slash-and-burn agriculture) in the latter part of the Japanese Jomon period (before 300 BC), pre-dating the introduction of rice growing to Japan.

07/02/2020

Approximately 92% of the site in forest that is mostly on sloped land, and despite these harsh conditions, people have been carrying out a composite system of agricultural forestry to sustain their lifestyles while striking a balance between conservation and the effective utilization of the forest.

10/09/2018

This video introduces what GIAHS is, how many sites are designated, and explains how they are recognized, taking one example of Wakayama prefecture. Not only does the video illustrate the process to the recognition, it also highlights the importance of conservation, passing it on to the future generations.

16/11/2015

The Aso Grasslands are located in Aso region of Kumamoto Prefecture, which situates in the middle of the Kyushu Island in Japan. Aso region spreads around active volcanic craters and huge caldera. The Aso volcano has one of the world’s largest caldera stretching 18 km from east to west and 25 km from north to south.

19/05/2020

Agricultural tourism can help rebuild and redefine tourism in a new more sustainable way

19/09/2016

Noto’s peninsula is characterized by a mosaic of socio-ecological production managed systems referred to as satoyama, terrestrial-aquatic landscape ecosystems comprising secondary woodlands, plantations, grasslands, farmlands, pasture, irrigation ponds and canals, and satoumi, marine-coastal ecosystems comprising seashore, rocky shore, tidal flats and seaweed/eelgrass beds.

26/05/2021

The local residents, geographical and ecological location as well as natural conditions co-evolve and evolve continuously in Zhagana village, Gansu province. This unique agricultural production is relatively closed, compact, complete, and self-sufficient, which is outstanding, said FAO Representative to China Carlos Watson.

21/05/2024

Tea is a way of life, it has been so for centuries, it is part of our history and culture around the world.

02/01/2024

An ancient Chinese farming system has been designated a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS) by FAO, making Qingtian County and Longxian village famous. The entire village is benefitting from the conservation of its agricultural heritage and has become a popular destination for tourists coming from the cities of Wenzhou and Shanghai.

02/01/2024

Discover the Kihambas of Mt. Kilimanjaro, a testament to agricultural heritage and sustainability. Through the eyes of generations-old farmers, learn how these unique sites blend biodiversity, resilience, and culture. With FAO's support, they face the challenges of climate change and growing demands, striving to feed families and protect their legacy.