The International Workshop on Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) and Biodiversity took place at FAO headquarters in Rome from13 – 15 December 2023. It brought together representatives from eight GIAHS sites and global biodiversity and agrobiodiversity experts. They engaged in a deep dialogue on conserving biodiversity and agrobiodiversity in GIAHS sites.

Mr Yoshihide Endo, GIAHS secretariat coordinator, opened the workshop.

Mr Kaveh Zahedi, Director of FAO’s Office of Climate Change, Biodiversity and Environment, spoke about GIAHS’ contribution to global processes and their role as incubators of local varieties that build resilience to climate change. He presented the new GIAHS – Slow Food publication: “Les jardins suspendus de Djebba El-Olia: un système ingénieux du patrimoine agricole mondial à savourer”.

Challenges, incentives and solutions for conserving biodiversity

Workshop participants agreed that both biodiversity and agrobiodiversity are facing threats on multiple fronts including market pressures and climate change. The group discussed ways in which they were successfully dealing with these threats and gave insights into possible solutions and incentives. They emphasized that conservation is a dynamic concept, and that GIAHS sites are a living laboratory for conserving thousands of unique species and local varieties of plants and animals.

As GIAHS sites become more integrated into the market economy, there is often pressure on farmers to reduce the types of varieties they grow to suit consumer demand. Some farmers have successfully created a demand for their unique crops and products by thinking in terms of niche markets. Certifications, Geographical indications, etc, are important ways of improving market demand and increasing prices for local varieties.

Farmers in GIAHS sites traditionally engage in polyculture which is less vulnerable to climate change and diseases than monoculture. Nonetheless, the effects of climate change, and water shortages, are driving farmers to change what they grow and how they grow. At the same time, the unique local varieties are an invaluable resource for making agriculture more resilient.

Aging populations, and the related threat of losing traditional knowledge, was a common problem. Young community members often leave the farming communities and there is a break in the chain of knowledge transmission. For example, sometimes people no longer remember certain agricultural practices or how to prepare recipes using the traditional crops. Possible solutions include documenting traditional practices recipes. Agrotourism, including promoting local restaurants, can help create more income opportunities and improve awareness of the uniqueness of the GIAHS sites.

All participants highlighted the importance of policy support and that GIAHS should be anchored  in national strategies – especially in biodiversity and agrobiodiversity strategies. Legal frameworks and legislation can also be powerful instruments for safeguarding biodiversity and agrobiodiversity.

Global frameworks and funding for conserving agrobiodiversity

Dr Monica Kobayashi from the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) talked about the Kunming-Montreal Biodiversity Framework and the role of small- scale farmers in biodiversity conservation. She highlighted the importance of genetic resources for adapting to climate change.

Ms Julie Bélanger then presented FAO’s strategy on mainstreaming biodiversity across agriculture sectors. The strategy aims to reduce the negative impacts of agriculture on biodiversity and promote sustainable agricultural practices.

Ms Valeria Gonzalez Riggio from the FAO -Global Environmental Facility  (GEF)  Coordination Unit presented the new Global Biodiversity Framework Fund (GBFF). The fund is expected to become operational in June 2024. She pointed out entry points for GIAHS to access GEF fundings.

Gene banks and the sustainable use of local varieties

Dr Bettina Heider from the International Potato Center (CIP) talked about the importance of both in situ and ex situ conservation of germplasms. She noted that seed fairs were an excellent way to restore and increase biodiversity. She also talked about how technology, such as an App being used to commercialize potatoes from the Andes in Lima, can help producers fetch better prices for local varieties.

Dr Arshiya Noorani presented FAO’s Voluntary guidelines for the conservation and sustainable use of farmer’s varieties and landraces. She reminded participants that identifying what not to do is just as important for conservation as identifying various solutions. Projects that have both community and government support and ownership have been by far the most successful ones.

The future of biodiversity and agrobiodiversity in the GIAHS

Mr Endo invited participants to reflect on the future of the GIAHS and how the market economy will put increasing pressure on farmers to focus on fewer varieties of crops and more modern varieties. He also said that the important contribution of the GIAHS to genetic resources and global germplasm should be emphasized more.

GIAHS experts and representatives at the workshop included:

• Ms Mary Abukutsa-Onyango, Professor of Horticulture, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Kenya
• Ms Daniela Acuña, Deputy Director, ODEPA, Ministry of Agriculture, Chile
• Ms Érika Zárate Baca from FAO Ecuador
• Mr Abdelhakim Issaoui, GIAHS National Focal Point, Ministry of Environment, Tunisia
• Dr Bal Krishna Joshi Chief of the National Genebank,  Khumaltar,  Nepal
• Mr Carlos Pozo, Member of Corporación Chakra, Ecuador
• Prof. Ryo Kohsaka from the University of Tokyo, Japan
• Ms Silvia Terán and  Mr Gilberto Gonzáles Kuk from the Milpa Maya of the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico
• Dr Weijian Zhang, Chief Scientist, from the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, China

More information

Presentations and video recordings of the workshop are available at:

https://www.fao.org/index.php?id=119383