FAO supports the establishment of Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) sites in Azerbaijan.

The attendees were informed about the significance and importance of traditional agricultural systems, looking closer into potential areas to be designated as GIAHS sites in Azerbaijan. The workshop was an opportunity to discuss the possibility of establishing a framework of Nationally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems.

The importance of promoting GIAHS at a national level

During the event, international and local experts provided information about the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems identified and designated by FAO until today. 

"As a positive outcome of the national workshop in Azerbaijan, it was announced that one potential GIAHS site has been identified in three adjacent regions in the North of the country and, subsequently, a draft proposal has been shared with FAO’s GIAHS Secretariat.  The candidate site focuses primarily on beekeeping and traditional honey production, traditional hazelnut production and processing, and the traditional persimmon productionand processing systems, as well as other traditionally produced food and agricultural products in the targetregion", Parviz Aliyev, focal point of Government on GIAHS and national expert on GIAHS stated in his speech.

During the meeting, experiences and best practices on the identification, management and dynamic conservation of such areas were shared with participants, including opportunities for local development after obtaining the GIAHS designation, such as the development of agro-tourism.

Looking back at 20 years of Globally Important Agricultural Heritage systems

Since 2005, FAO has designated 65 systems in 22 countries as agricultural heritage sites, and currently, 15 new proposals are under evaluation by the GIAHS Scientific Advisory Group 2022.

 This year marks the 20th anniversary of the FAO GIAHS Programme. FAO launched the GIAHS initiative at the World Summit on Sustainable Development held in Johannesburg in 2002. Since its inception, the number of agricultural systems recognized as GIAHS has been gradually increasing and contributing to safeguarding the environment, livelihoods, biodiversity and vulnerable communities. In the recent 7 years, the GIAHS programme has evolved and expanded the geographic coverage of GIAHS recognized areas, including Europe. The identification of these three candidates sites, including Azerbaijan, supports the recent development of FAO’s programme.