Lessons that Transform: Dialogues and Experiences on Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems in Latin America

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Background

Over time, agricultural, fishing, and pastoral communities have shaped their territories through traditional practices that have allowed them to adapt to environmental, social, and economic challenges. These systems, developed over centuries or even millennia, stand out for their resilience and ability to adapt to climate change, representing sustainable and living solutions to the planet's current challenges.

In this context, FAO launched the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) initiative in 2002 during the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg. The goal is to identify, safeguard, and promote traditional agricultural systems as global heritage, recognizing their cultural, ecological, and economic value. The initiative drives public policies, generates sustainable income for communities, and strengthens their management capacities.

To date, FAO has recognized 89 GIAHS sites in 28 countries. In Latin America, notable experiences exist in Mexico, Peru, Ecuador, Brazil, and Chile. These cases demonstrate how GIAHS contribute to food security, agrobiodiversity, and the sustainability of rural livelihoods, serving as a key tool in addressing sustainable development challenges.

Objectives

To create a learning space through the exchange of experiences, lessons, and recommendations emerging from different stages of the GIAHS process: identification, designation, institutionalization, management, evaluation, market access, income-generating opportunities (tourism), and policies and actions that promote sustainability and institutionalization.