The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) leads the programme Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS), which helps identify ways to mitigate threats faced by these systems and their people and enhance the benefits derived from these dynamic systems.
Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems recognize remarkable land use systems and landscapes full of life and biodiversity, resilient ecosystems, and valuable cultural heritages managed by farmers, herders, fisherfolk, and forest people. Communities that have preserved and developed complex, diverse, and locally adapted agricultural systems that nowadays provide sustainably many goods and services, food, and livelihood security for millions of people around the world.
As of April 2026, the GIAHS Programme has awarded the designation to 104 sites in 29 countries.
List of UN-designated Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems
Country System Image Year Designated Possibly related articles; other notesAndorraThe subalpine pastures of Andorra2023 2011 El Oued, Grand Erg Oriental, oasis, agriculture in Algeria, ghout is a plural form of a noun meaning "cavity, hollow, depression" ()AustriaTraditional Hay milk Farming in the Austrian Alpine Arc2023 Floating fields of Bangladesh 2015 Gopalganj, Barisal, Pirojpuro, agriculture in Bangladesh, Local/regional names: baira, geto, dhap Traditional agricultural system in the southern Espinhaço Range, Minas Gerais 2020 Espinhaço Mountains, , agriculture in Brazil Chiloé agriculture 2011 History of Chiloé, History of agriculture in Chile, agriculture in ChileChinaKuancheng Traditional Chestnut Eco-Planting System in Hebei Province2023ChinaTongling White Ginger Plantation System in Anhui Province2023ChinaXianju Ancient Chinese Waxberry Composite System in Zhejiang Province2023 Rice terraces in southern mountainous and hilly areas of China 2018 History of rice cultivation, agriculture in China Rice–fish culture in China 2005 History of rice cultivation, agriculture in China Wannian traditional rice culture 2010 Wannian County, History of rice cultivation, agriculture in China Honghe Hani rice terraces 2010 Yuanyang County, Yunnan, history of rice cultivation, agriculture in China Dong's rice–fish–duck system 2011 Dong people, Congjiang County, agriculture in China Pu'er traditional tea agrosystem 2012 Pu'er, Yunnan, Camellia sinensis, history of tea, History of tea in China, Chinese tea, Chinese tea culture Aohan dryland farming system 2012 Aohan Banner, Inner Mongolia, Agriculture in China, Agriculture in Mongolia, Agriculture in Central Asia Kuaijishan ancient Chinese Torreya system 2013Torreya grandis, Kuaiji Mountains, Shaoxing, Zhejiang Xuanhua urban vineyard system 2013 , Chunguang Township , Guanhou village, Penyao village and Dabei village Jiaxian jujube orchards 2014 Jujube, Jinshaan Canyon, Yellow River, Jia County, Shaanxi, "Chinese date" Xinghua Duotian agrosystem 2014 Jasmine and tea culture system, Fuzhou City 2014 Fuzhou, Camellia sinensis, history of tea, History of tea in China, Chinese tea, Chinese tea culture Huzhou mulberry-dyke and fish-pond system 2017Morus Diebu Zhagana agriculture-forestry-animal husbandry composite system 2017 Xiajin Yellow River Old Course ancient mulberry grove system 2018Morus, Yellow River Shexian dryland stone-terraced system 2022She County, Anhui, List of Major National Historical and Cultural Sites in Anhui Anxi Tieguanyin tea culture system 2022 Ar Horqin grassland nomadic system, Inner Mongolia 2022 Ar Horqin Banner, Inner Mongolia, nomad Qingyuan forest-mushroom co-culture system, Zhejiang Province 2022Qingyuan County, Zhejiang, mushroom cultivation, agroforestry Amazonian chakra, a traditional agroforestry system managed by Indigenous communities in Napo Province 2023 , Napo Province, Andean chakra ancestral agricultural system of Kichwas Cotacachi communities 2023 , Amazonian Kichwas, Kichwa language, Cotacachi Canton, Cotacachi Cayapas Ecological Reserve, , Andean agriculture Dates production system, Siwa Oasis 2016 Siwa, oasis, date palm, agriculture in Egypt Saffron heritage of Kashmir 2011 Pampore Karewas, Pulwama district, Saffron, Crocus sativus, , agriculture in India Koraput traditional agriculture 2012 , Odisha, Eastern Ghats, agriculture in India Kuttanad below-sea-level farming system 2013 , Kerala, agriculture in India Olive orchards between Assisi and Spoleto 2018 Olea europaea, Assisi, Spoleto, agriculture in Italy 2018Soave (wine) of Soave, Veneto, Vitis, agriculture in ItalyIranTraditional Walnut Agricultural System in Tuyserkan, Hamedan province2023 Qanat-irrigated agricultural heritage systems, Kashan 2014 Kashan, Isfahan province, qanat, agriculture in Iran Qanat-based saffron farming system in Gonabad 2018 Qanats of Ghasabeh, Qanat, Saffron, Crocus sativus, Gonabad Grape production system in Jowzan Valley 2018 Fruit production in Iran, agriculture in Iran, Jowzan, Jowzan Rural District, Malayer County Estahban Rainfed Fig Orchards Heritage System, Fars Province 2023 Estahban, Fars province, agriculture in Iran Noto's satoyama and satoumi 2011 Noto Peninsula, satoyama, satoumi, agriculture in Japan Sado's satoyama in harmony with Japanese crested ibis 2011Sado Island, satoyama, Nipponia nippon, agriculture in Japan 2013 Shizuoka Prefecture, Honshu, agriculture in Japan, Chagusaba Managing Aso grasslands for sustainable agriculture 2013 Mount Aso, , history of Kumamoto Prefecture, agriculture in Japan Kunisaki Peninsula Usa integrated forestry, agriculture and fisheries system 2013 Quercus acutissima, , Usa, Ōita Kunisaki Peninsula, agriculture in Japan Ayu of the Nagara River system 2015 Ayu sweetfish, Nagara River, Agriculture in Japan 2015 Umeboshi, Prunus mume, , Minabe, :jp:南部川 (和歌山県) (local river), Tanabe, Wakayama Prefecture, Kii peninsula, Agriculture in Japan Takachihogo-Shiibayama mountainous agriculture and forestry system 2015 Agriculture in Japan Osaki Kôdo's traditional water management system for sustainable paddy agriculture 2017 Agriculture in Japan, rice production in Japan, paddy field Nishi-Awa steep slope agriculture system 2018 Agriculture in Japan Traditional wasabi cultivation, Shizuoka 2018 Eutrema japonicum, agriculture in Japan Biwa lake-to-land integrated system 2022 Agriculture in Japan Fruit cultivation system in Kyoutou Region, Yamanashi 2022 Agriculture in Japan Oldonyonokie/Olkeri Maasai pastoralist heritage 2011 Agriculture in Kenya, Maasai, pastoralism Chinampa system 2018 Agriculture in Mexico Ich Kool: Mayan milpa, Yucatán Peninsula 2022 Milpa, Yucatán Peninsula, agriculture in Mesoamerica, agriculture in Mexico, ancient Maya cuisine Ksour and social irrigation management of Figuig 2022 Figuig, oasis, date palm, agriculture in Morocco Argan-based agro-silvopasture, and Mansour 2018 , Agriculture in Morocco Oases system, Atlas Mountains 2011 Oasis, Atlas Mountains, agriculture in Morocco Ifugao rice terraces 2011 Emergence of agriculture in the Philippines, rice terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras, agriculture in the Philippines Andean agriculture 2011 Agricultural history of Peru, Incan agriculture Barroso agrosilvopastoral system 2018 Barroso (region), Barrosã cattle, Presunto de Barroso, silvopastureRepublic of KoreaJeju Haenyeo Fisheries System 2023Republic of KoreaSonteul (hand net) Fishery System for gathering Marsh Clam in Seomjingang River2023 Republic of Korea 2020 Damyang County, South Jeolla, Bambusoideae Republic of Korea Geumsan traditional ginseng agricultural system 2018 Panax ginseng, Agriculture in South Korea, Geumsan County Republic of Korea 2014 Jeju Province, Jeju Island, Agriculture in South Korea Republic of Korea Traditional Gudeuljang irrigated rice terraces, Cheongsando 2014 Rice production in South Korea, agriculture in South Korea Republic of Korea Traditional Hadong tea agrosystem, Hwagae-myeon 2017 Agriculture in South Korea Ancient olive trees, Territorio Sénia 2018 Taula del Sénia, Cenia (river), Ilercavonia, Olea europaea 2017 Province of Málaga, History of Málaga, Málaga and Sierras de Málaga, Malaga (wine) Salt-production system of Añana 2017 Añana, Alava, Basque Country Historical irrigation system at l'Horta de València 2019 Horta of Valencia, Water Tribunal of the plain of Valencia, , , , , , , , , , , , , , agriculture in Spain 2022Province of León, Picos de Europa, silvopasture Cascaded tank–village system in the dry zone of Sri Lanka 2017 Irrigation tank, agriculture in Sri Lanka Engaresero Maasai pastoralist heritage area 2011 Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Engaresero village, Enguserosambu, Lake Natron, Ngorongoro District, Maasai, pastoralism Shimbwe Juu Kihamba agroforestry heritage site 2011 Chaga people, Moshi Rural District, Kilimanjaro Region, agroforestry, Kihamba Thale Noi Wetland pastoral buffalo agro-ecosystem 2022 Thale Noi Non-Hunting Area, Siamese buffalo, agriculture in Thailand, pastoralism Gafsa oases 2011 Gafsa, , oasis, date palms Hanging gardens of Djebba El Olia 2020 Djebba El Olia, Mount el Gorrâa or Jbel el Gorrâa Mount Ramli agricultural system in the lagoons of Ghar El Melh 2020 Ghar El Melh Al Ain Oasis and Liwa Oasis historical date palm cultivation 2015 Oasis, agroforestry, date palm, falaj Ancient Traditional Gardens of Qazvin Bāghestān, Iran 2023 Qazvin
See also List of Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (Japan)
References
External links FAO GIAHS Official website List of designated sites Photos of GIAHS sites