Plenary Session: Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS)
The contribution of heritage agricultural systems to mitigation and adaptation
Friday 10 November – Bonn, Germany
Chair: Professor M. Agnoletti, Chair of GIAHS Scientific Advisory Group (University of Florence – UNISCAPE)
Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) are remarkable land use systems and landscapes which are rich in biological diversity evolving from the co-adaptation of a rural community with its environment and its needs and aspirations for sustainable development. GIAHS have been formed in harsh geographic and environmental conditions and transferred from generation to generation. Designation of GIAHS is based on the five criteria, such contribution to food security and livelihood, maintenance of agrobiodiversity, traditional knowledge, cultures and landscapes.
Therefore, traditional agricultural practices in the GIAHS sites are important examples of adaptation to difficult environmental conditions and of the low energy inputs agricultural models which have high potentials to exert resilience against the impacts from climate change and can achieve appropriate adjustments to severe and harsh environment.
This session is to learn the experiences in specific GIAHS sites of having addressed negative impacts arising from harsh climate conditions and how they have adapted to such impacts. The session also seeks options for combating climate change using wisdom of traditional knowledge developed and transferred by local farmers.