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Seeds of heritage: The journey of GIAHS in Europe and Central Asia

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Year of publication 2025

Place of publication Budapest, Hungary ;

Pages 30 p.

Author FAO

Publisher FAO ;

Product type Book (stand-alone)

Category General interest book

ISBN 978-92-5-140361-7

Edition Second edition

To cite or share https://doi.org/10.4060/cd7844en

Synopsis (short abstract) This booklet presents the progress and future steps of the FAO programme Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) in the Europe and Central Asia region. It aims to provide a clear overview of the regional current state of identification and dynamic conservation of these agricultural heritage systems, highlighting their role as "living laboratories” of resilience, biodiversity, cultural heritage and sustainable agricultural practices to global challenges.FAO’s Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia (REU) has led the implementation of the 2022–2025 GIAHS regional roadmap, focusing on site recognition, natural capital preservation, and local economic development. A regional consultation identified key challenges – climate change, agrobiodiversity loss, and weakened traditional knowledge – alongside opportunities such as tourism, youth engagement, and policy support. The proposed next steps beyond this roadmap already closing in 2025, include strengthening regional networks, fostering public–private partnerships, and expanding training and market access to ensure dynamic conservation and promote GIAHS as a model for sustainable, climate-resilient rural development.The publication enhances the visibility of FAO and its partners, reinforces the role of GIAHS in agrifood system transformation, and is expected to stimulate new nominations, partnerships, and investments. It adds value by positioning GIAHS as a key contributor to sustainable development goals and regional cooperation.

Cite this content as:

FAO. 2025. Seeds of heritage: The journey of GIAHS in Europe and Central Asia. Second edition. Budapest.

 


https://doi.org/10.4060/cd7844en

Language English

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  • Thumbnail Image
    Booklet
    Corporate general interest
    Seeds of Heritage: The Journey of GIAHS in Europe and Central Asia 2025
    Also available in:
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    This booklet presents the progress and future steps of the FAO programme Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) in the Europe and Central Asia region. It aims to provide a clear overview of the regional current state of identification and dynamic conservation of these agricultural heritage systems,highlighting their role as "living laboratories” of resilience, biodiversity, cultural heritage and sustainable agricultural practices to global challenges.FAO’s Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia (REU) has led the implementation of the 2022–2025 GIAHS regional roadmap, focusing on site recognition, natural capital preservation, and local economic development. A regional consultation identified key challenges—climate change, agrobiodiversity loss, and weakened traditional knowledge—alongside opportunities such as tourism, youth engagement, and policy support. The proposed next steps beyond this roadmap already closing in 2025, includes strengthening regional networks, fostering public-private partnerships, and expanding training and market access to ensure dynamic conservation and promote GIAHS as a model for sustainable, climate-resilient rural development.The publication enhances the visibility of FAO and its partners, reinforces the role of GIAHS in agrifood system transformation, and is expected to stimulate new nominations, partnerships, and investments. It adds value by positioning GIAHS as a key contributor to sustainable development goals and regional cooperation.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Brochure, flyer, fact-sheet
    Proceedings
    Proceedings of the Second Dialogue on Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) for Europe and Central Asia 2023
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    The Second Dialogue on Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) in Europe and Central Asia aimed to promote the GIAHS Programme in the region, raising awareness on the potentiality of participating in the dynamic conservation of these sites. Speakers from all around the region discussed about traditional agricultural systems, bringing the experience of existing sites at different stages of recognition and potential ones that are still in the process of identification. The post-pandemic's prediction led the virtual meeting the opportunity to talk about resilience and vulnerability of these sites both to climate change and economic crises. Experts discussed about the importance and the ways of achieving economic diversification of local agricultural practices, the creation of a sustainable agrotourism network and the promotion of market access for the agricultural local products. During the Dialogue, representatives had the chance to discuss about their sites’ priorities and the challenges faced by member countries in the region: one of the most important objectives of this meeting was to outline the new Regional Strategy for the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) in Europe and Central Asia for 2021-2025.
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    Project
    Programme / project report
    Qanat Irrigated Agricultural Heritage Systems). Proposal for Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) of Kashan, Isfahan Province Islamic Republic of Iran
    Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS)
    2014
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    The most important agricultural systems such as Pomegranate, Pistachio, and Saffron farming systems are irrigated by Qanat. The geographical regions around the Central Desert of Iran which is also one of the most traditional agricultural areas have been using the Qanat technology for providing water for agriculture and human consumption for thousands of years. The Qanat Irrigation technology and related knowledge system have developed in Iran as early as 800 BC and the Kashan region is the land of one of the oldest human habitat in Iran and is also one of the origins of Persian agricultural civilization irrigated by Qanat system.
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