GIAHS’ Dynamic Conservation Hinges on Program Ownership by All Stakeholders

October 02-04, 2024: Representatives from already designated GIAHS sites and potential sites in North Africa and Spain gathered in Alicante from October 2 to 4, 2024, as part of a workshop on "Mediterranean Meetings on the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS)." This event, organized in partnership with Spain and attended by the FAO Subregional Office for North Africa, the FAO GIAHS Secretariat, the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), and the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), marked a significant milestone.

The launch of the GIAHS programme by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) dates back to 2002. Today, the numbers reflect the flourishing growth of this initiative, with a total of 89 GIAHS sites in 28 countries. The recognized sites are distributed as follows: - 3 sites in Africa; - 10 sites in Europe and Central Asia; 7 sites in Latin America and the Caribbean; 59 in Asia and the Pacific; and 9 sites in the NENA and North Africa regions.

North Africa serves as a space for mixing experiences, identifying best practices, and exploring synergies with Spain.

The workshop featured rich exchanges and field visits that raised awareness among the various partners. North Africa presented good practices and successes following GIAHS recognition. In Tunisia, the historic Oasis of Gafsa, one of the pioneering GIAHS sites, shared its experience in citizen participation and community and institutional engagement. The representative emphasized the dynamic conservation in action and highlighted the credibility earned in project management, which lends credibility to resource mobilization. Another site, the Djebba el Olia Gardens, showcased significant biodiversity with its spontaneous and domesticated animal and plant species, acting as specific niches and refuges for various species. Skills are passed on to youth and women, who are involved in agricultural activities such as fieldwork, planting, caprification, harvesting, drying, and processing. Some farmers still preserve their local endemic seeds. Lastly, the Ramli cultural systems in the lagoons of Ghar El Melh invested in raising awareness among agro-fishers about the importance of this certification/recognition through meetings and seminars. They have conducted detailed assessments of the ancestral knowledge of this unique agriculture, which supports several families and generates income.

Algeria affirmed that the recognition of the Ghout oases system of El Oued marked a turning point for this system. This recognition gave international visibility to oasis agricultural practices and highlighted the need to preserve them. It also encouraged Algeria to take steps to enhance and support the Ghouts. Even more, the revitalization of diverse agricultural practices was achieved through the reintroduction of certain local plant and animal species and the creation of new Ghouts by self-financing farmers (134 new Ghouts). Uncontrolled urbanization has been curbed, traditional gardens restored, and sustainable agricultural practices adapted to Saharan conditions have been promoted through national and regional protection programs (a governor's decree to protect the Ghouts). Five associations have been created to continue awareness-raising, promote the transmission of traditional knowledge, and encourage participatory management of natural resources. Local associations are increasingly interested in preserving the Ghout system, advocating for economic diversification within the Ghouts, such as the introduction of agro-tourism (three projects are awaiting funding).

Morocco presented the Cold Oasis of Imilchil/Amellago, which, since its recognition, has been embraced by local actors, particularly the Akhyam Association for Development. This association motivates and supports youth, women, and farmer cooperatives. Another site, the ksours of Figuig, which consists of oasis and pastoral cultures centered on social management of water and land, has implemented a management plan ensuring the sustainable use of these fragile resources through improved resilience, conservation, and management of natural resources, as well as the improvement of the population's living conditions and the securing of services and socio-economic activities in the area. The revitalization of traditional know-how and the oasis's cultural and technical resources, with ancestral knowledge serving as a bridge between the oasis and pastoral entities, allows for income diversification through tourism promotion. Finally, the agro-silvo-pastoral argan tree system in the Ait Souab-Ait Mansour region has received special attention, with considerable funds invested in its expansion through integrated projects involving several stakeholders. It has hosted numerous ministerial delegation visits, most recently in March 2024 by the Prime Minister, the Minister of Agriculture, and several other ministers from various sectors.

Cooperation and Institutionalization of GIAHS Across the Mediterranean: Key to Meeting Common Challenges

The challenges raised during the discussions highlighted several ways to support the dynamic conservation of GIAHS in the Mediterranean. It was expressed that strengthening national capacities in North Africa was a priority. The experiences and field visits in the Alicante region demonstrated the richness and similarities of these agricultural heritages, as identified by GIAHS on both shores. The uniqueness of the experiences presented revealed paths that emphasized the importance of diverse stakeholders. For instance, the role of the private sector was highlighted through the presentation of the Salinas de Añana site in the province of Alava, in the Basque Country, Spain. The importance of networking to support GIAHS activities and promotion prospects was illustrated through the presentation of the European VALSIPAM project, managed by the local government of Andalusia. The role of scientific research was also emphasized through the participation of the Polytechnic University of Valencia, which explained how the GIAHS approach gives visibility to rural communities and offers territorial recognition of agricultural heritage. This enhances the value of goods and services provided by rural communities. Sustainable tourism and its potential to add value to GIAHS products were highlighted by the representative of the Mancomunitat Taula del Sénia.

While challenges and difficulties among Mediterranean GIAHS sites share commonalities, the levers and solutions also have a shared root. Regarding the involvement and collaboration of different stakeholders, the importance of institutionalizing GIAHS sites for better implementation of national action plans was emphasized. In this regard, participants unanimously stressed the importance of intensifying awareness-raising efforts and improving program ownership by all stakeholders. An appropriate and supportive institutional framework for GIAHS is essential to ensure their sustainability and position them as examples of sustainable development through the preservation of traditional agricultural systems. In this perspective, training and strengthening a network of experience-sharing between the different GIAHS worldwide, as well as among member countries, represent a crucial step for progress and long-term cooperation. GIAHS were presented as ecosystems of social and technological eco-innovations linked to the provision of food and environmental services. They represent a food system model capable of addressing the challenges of the Sustainable Development Goals, benefiting agricultural communities, societies, and ancestral agricultural heritage.