IPSI member the United Nations University Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability Operating Unit Ishikawa/Kanazawa (UNU-IAS OUIK) recently published a report titled “The Road to Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS): United Nations University’s Journey with Local Communities”, which details UNU’s involvement in expanding GIAHS in Asia.

GIAHS is an initiative administered by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) for identification and conservation of agricultural systems around the world that, according to its website, “have resulted not only in outstanding landscapes, maintenance and adaptation of globally significant agricultural biodiversity, indigenous knowledge systems and resilient ecosystems, but also food and livelihood security for millions of poor and small farmers in a sustainable manner”. UNU has actively promoted the GIAHS concept in Japan since 2009. This publication documents UNU’s work with local communities and various stakeholders in Asia thus far on the road to GIAHS designation and the roles of the GIAHS sites in conserving their agricultural heritage systems.

This publication should be of interest to many IPSI members, particularly governments and government-related organizations in any countries that are interested in introducing GIAHS or expanding its presence.

The publication is available for download from UNU Collections here, or by clicking the image below.