Traditionally farmed landscapes can help produce food while also protecting nature and keeping cultural traditions alive. A research team led by the University of Göttingen recently examined Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) as defined and recognized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. The researchers found that these landscapes can offer practical lessons for sustainable land use worldwide—but only if strategies are adapted to local people, environments and farming traditions. The results are published in Ecology & Society.
The study looked at agricultural heritage systems around the world, including terraced rice fields in the Philippines; traditional pastoral systems such as livestock grazing, and rye and potato farming in the mountainous areas of Portugal; oasis agriculture, where date palms are cultivated thanks to traditional irrigation systems; and mixed farming landscapes.
An example from Europe is traditional hay-milk farming in the Austrian Alps, where cows graze on long-established grasslands to support dairy production and help maintain species-rich meadows. Based on a survey of GIAHS sites, the research team identified four main ways these systems remain viable: certified products and local markets; staple foods produced through short supply chains; exports of high-quality specialty products; and a strong focus on cultural values and adaptation to climate change.
Our analysis of Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems shows that food production and nature conservation do not have to be in opposition," says first author and Ph.D. researcher Maria Chiara Camporese at Göttingen University.
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