Agricultural Heritage Systems in Europe, Asia, Africa, Central and South America [E-Book]

Introduction -- 1. The FAO Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) programme -- 2. Potential GIAHS sites in Africa -- 2.1. The jessour system, Tunisia; Afef Zanzana -- 2.2. The Mountain Oases, Tunisia; Fadwa Benyahia -- 2.3 The Ketaba agroecology system, Senegal; Alioune Badara Fall -- 2.4 The cultural landscape of Konso, Ethiopia; Yenewa Dessie Alemu, Fethia Abdullahi Ahmed -- 2.5. The Marakwet traditional irrigation system, Kenya; Sheilla Jeruto Tallam -- 2.6. The agroforestry system in Sao Tome and Principe; Joana Rocha Dias -- 3. Potential GIAHS sites in Asia -- 3.1. The floating garden system of the Inle Lake, Myanmar; Moe Thae Oo, Zin Wai Aung -- 3.2. The traditional Naga agricultural system, Myanamr; Ti Chia -- 3.3. The lychee cultivation system in Haikou City, China; Xieli Bai -- 3.4. The ancient terraced agricultural system in Shouf, Lebanon; Marwa Abou Assi -- 3.5. Cultivation of Mohammadi flower and rosewater production system in Barzok, Iran; Mohammad Amin Emadi -- 4. Potential GIAHS sites in Europe -- 4.1. The rainfed mulching agriculture in the volcanic island of Lanzarote, Spain; Marta Arnš -- 4.2. The traditional alpine agriculture in Valtellina and Valposchiavo, Italy-Switzerland; Michelangelo Ferri -- 4.3. The terraced vineyards of Lamole in Chianti, Italy; Francesco Piras -- 4.4. The traditional agricultural system of the hills of Vertop, Albania; Florjan Boduri -- 5. Potential GIAHS sites in Central and South America -- 5.1. The traditional agricultural system in the Sierra del Rosario, Cuba; Alejandro Gonzalez -- 5.2. The sustainable agricultural system of the Sierra Maestra, Cuba; Yenia Molina Pelegrn̕ -- 5.3. The traditional agricultural system of tobacco in Viąles, Cuba; Liane Br̀bara Portuondo Fara̕s -- 5.4. The Sabana de Morro agroforestry system in Dolores, El Salvador; Ever Alexis Martn̕ez Aguilar -- 5.5. The "Chakra" agroforestry system of the Kichwa communities, Ecuador; Erika Zr̀ate -- 5.6. The "Chagras" agroforestry system in the Amazon, Colombia; Mara̕ Alejandra Hernǹdez Marentes -- 5.7. The vertical productive system in the Charazani Valley, Bolivia; Fabiana Navia -- Conclusions.

Agriculture is often considered as one of the main threats to ecosystems. Unsustainable farming practices often result in habitat loss, inefficient use of water, soil degradation, pollution, genetic erosion, among other negative impacts on human life, including hunger, low food quality, reduced access to food resources, as well as the abandonment of rural areas. Nevertheless, when agriculture is practiced in a sustainable way, it can contribute to the preservation of many habitats, to the protection of watersheds, to the preservation and improvement of soil health. The use of sustainable and ecological practices is the key feature distinguishing traditional agriculture from intensive one. It may not provide very high yields, but ensures sustainable harvests over time, thanks to time-tested technologies and traditional know-hows and also represent examples of adaptation to harsh environmental conditions. Based on this approach, in 2002, FAO launched the concept of Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) Programme, to identify and safeguard agricultural systems that are ensuring food and livelihood security, while maintaining magnificent landscapes, agricultural biodiversity, traditional knowledge, cultural and social values. This book presents 18 examples of these traditional agriculture systems around the world, with a special focus on Europe, Asia, Africa, Central and South America, as a result of the "GIAHS Building Capacity" project co-funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) and carried out by the Department of Agriculture, Food, Environment and Forestry (DAGRI) of the University of Florence (Italy).