Scientists say that these next ten years will count the most in the fight against climate change and biodiversity loss. 2021 marks the start of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, and this is our opportunity to turn the tide to prevent, halt and reverse degradation of ecosystems worldwide.
So, what is ecosystem restoration?
Ecosystem restoration means repairing ecosystems that have been degraded as well as protecting the ones that are healthy. This includes a wide range of activities from enhancing organic carbon in agricultural soils and increasing fish stocks in overfished zones to restoring polluted sites.
To help us make this leap, we can draw on the experiences of farmers who, for generations, have sustainably lived off the land. With traditional know-how, recognition of the environment’s value and a sense of cultural identity, these farmers possess unique knowledge of and experience with good agricultural practices and methods for ecosystem preservation.
FAO has designated these remarkable systems as Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS). These are agricultural sites where local communities use their surroundings and natural resources respectfully and thrive in harmony with nature.
Here are six GIAHS sites proving that environmental sustainability is not just possible, it is successful!
Andean Agriculture, Peru
Andean agricultural methods have been used in the mountainous area of Peru for more than 5 000 years. With agricultural knowledge passed on for centuries, the indigenous peoples of this area have established and maintained terraces, local irrigation systems and three main agricultural systems adapted to different altitudes. Unique in the world, the waru waru practice, which consists of water canals that trap solar radiation during the day, stopping the crops from freezing at night. These terraces and water management techniques that allow cultivation of native crops and maintain soil health are a longstanding example of farmers sustainably adapting to a harsh environment.
Nishi-Awa Steep Slope Land Agricultural System, Japan
On an area of steep mountainsides deemed unsuitable for cultivation, farmers in Shikoku, Japan, have developed a unique way of farming the land. By adding in stone walls to lessen the steep incline and utilizing mulching practices called kaya to reduce soil erosion, these farmers are able to leave mountain slopes intact. Although each farm’s cultivation area is small, a large variety of grains and vegetables are grown. Surrounded by forests, the system is also part of an ecological corridor for wildlife that contributes to biodiversity conservation in the ecosystem.