Institutional Development for Agricultural Heritage Conservation

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Institutional Development for Agricultural
Heritage Conservation

• Wageningen International
• Frank van Schoubroeck and ArendJan van Bodegom

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Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems
(GIAHS)

• GIAHS is an FAO initiative to
• Define recognise AHS
• Contribute to dyanamic conservation of such
  systems

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FAOs definition of GIAHS

• Remarkable land use systems and landscapes
• rich in biodiversity
• resulting from the co-adaptation of a rural
  community with its environment
• In short
• GIAHSs are socio-ecological agricultural systems

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dynamic conservation is piloted in six sites,
e.g.,Chiloe Islands, Chilli - potato systems
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Rice terrace systemsPhilippinesIfugao
ChinaRice-Fish
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Maghreb Oases systems
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The assignment of GIAHS projects
How?
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Case Gafsa Oasis in Tunesia
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Gafsa town oasis are over 2,000 years old
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Traditional three-level cultivation
system-Palm trees-Fruit crops-Annual
crops
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Threats to oasis systemPalm fruit tree
logging annual cropping
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NGO project awareness raising about oasis
system promote multiple cropping layers
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NGO Project Niche Market Development for oasis
products
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Chat with Oasis farmers why do you cut palm
fruit tree layers?
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Farmers tell that most land is under absentee
landowners, who employ labour for maximum 1-2
seasons
effectiveness awareness raising niche
marketing?
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QD Reconstruction of Land holding history Gafsa
oasis

• Traditionally local chief system administered
  land holding
• 1950s State enforced land holding certification
  and undermined traditional system
• Now absentee landowners keep labourers
  unattached
• State does not enforce labourer rights
• Thus, labourers invest for short-term only, kill
  palm trees
• Thus, the oasis system disintegrates, even if
  under different conditions it is viable and
  sustainable

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What to do to address land tenure? Outcome
Framework for Land Tenure Governance Mechanism
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Governance Mechanism Development Land Tenure for
GIAHS
Actor Activity Condition Indicators
Local level Local level Local level Local level
Agriculture Labourer Production through multi-layered cropping Key issue Secure land tenure Number of years families work on the same plot
Farmers organisation Defend and monitor labourers rights Enforcement support by Government Regular meeting, reporting to local Government
Meso-level Meso-level Meso-level Meso-level
Local Government Enforce land tenure Policy concept Enforcement mechanism in place
National level National level National level National level
Ministries Develop law enforcement system Political support Policy in place
Global level Global level Global level Global level
FAO, donors Support GIAHS conservation discourse Research political support GIAHS conservation concept in place
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Possible Governance mechanism development for
urgent issues in oasis conservation

• Water table management
• Land conversion to buildings
• Tourism/park development for town
• Niche marketing of oasis products

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Conclusion

• Changing institutional environments undermine
  Agricultural Heritage Systems ( and possibly
  most Low External Input Agriculture)
• Result is agri-system disintegration loss of
  livelihood opportunities for large groups of of
  farmers
• A possible approach is multiple actors realising
  governance mechanisms to address urgent issues
• Upcoming opportunities such as tourism, niche
  marketing etc. are urgent issues for the
  viability of agricultural heritage systems