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Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS)

The Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) is a project established in 2002 by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), an international organization whose aim is to ensure food security, with the purpose of maintaining the land use that protects biodiversity, traditional agriculture and farming methods that make full use of the environment, rural culture and landscapes, which are being lost in the process of modernization, as integrated “agricultural systems”, and passing them on to future generations. There are currently 62 systems in 22 countries that have been designated by the FAO as GIAHS.

A Brief Overview of the Conference

The International Conference on GIAHS 2021 was held in the Noto region of Ishikawa Prefecture in autumn in commemoration of the 10th anniversary of Noto’s Satoyama and Satoumi being designated Japan’s first GIAHS in June 2011.
Although the Conference was held online for overseas participants due to the pandemic, it provided a venue for representatives from international organizations and designated GIAHS sites across the globe to gather and share with the world the value of GIAHS, as well as the past efforts and achievements of Noto’s Satoyama and Satoumi, which marked its 10th anniversary of GIAHS designation.
The Noto Communiqué 2021 was adopted based on the discussions in the High-Level Session and Technical Sessions, which calls for the promotion of cooperation among the designated sites and support for regions in developing countries seeking GIAHS designation.


Date: November 25, 2021 (Thursday) –November 27, 2021 (Saturday)
Venue: Aenokaze, Wakura Onsen, Nanao City, Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan
Organizers: Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan /
Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Japan (MAFF) /
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) /
United Nations University Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability (UNU-IAS) /
Noto Regional Association for GIAHS Promotion and Cooperation
Co-Organizers: Niigata Prefecture, Japan /
Sado City, Niigata Prefecture, Japan
Participants: Approx. 200 people

Program

  • Day 1: Thursday, 25 November
    　　　
    12:45-13:30Opening Ceremony
    13:30-15:30High-Level Session
    16:00-19:00Technical Session 1 Economy: Using GIAHS to Boost Incomes
    Technical Session 2 Society: Securing and Training People for the Dynamic Conservation of GIAHS
    ＜Related Events＞
    　
    16:00-17:00J-GIAHS Alliance Meeting
    17:00-17:45Dialogue between the Ambassadors to Japan and Ishikawa Governor Tanimoto
    18:00-18:20Dialogue between FAO Director-General Qu and Ishikawa Governor Tanimoto
    Ishikawa Governor Tanimoto delivers his keynote speech at the Opening Ceremony
    Ishikawa Governor Tanimoto delivers his keynote speech at the Opening Ceremony
  • Day 2: Friday, 26 November
    　　　
    9:00-12:00Technical Session 3 Environment: Conservation and Restoration of Ecosystems and Sustainable Use of Resources through the Dynamic Conservation of GIAHS
    13:00-15:20Commemorative Symposium
    15:30-16:30Closing Session
    ＜Related Events＞
    　
    9:30-15:00Youth Session（GIAHS Youth Summit）
    10:00-10:45Dialogue between the Ambassadors to Japan and Noto Stakeholders
    Members of the Organizing Committee pose for a commemorative photo at the Closing Session
    Members of the Organizing Committee pose for a commemorative photo at the Closing Session
  • Day 3: Saturday, 27 November
    Excursions（5 Courses in Noto Region）
    Participants listen to information explained at excursion site
    Participants listen to information explained at excursion site
Conference Program (PDF) Noto Communiqué 2021 on Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (PDF)