Institutional Development for Agricultural Heritage Conservation

Institutional Development for Institutional Development for Agricultural Heritage Agricultural Heritage ConservationConservationWageningen International Frank van Schoubroeck and ArendJan van Bodegom

Globally Important Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS)Systems (GIAHS)

GIAHS is an FAO initiative toDefine & recognise AHSContribute to “dyanamic conservation” of such systems

Remarkable land use systems and Remarkable land use systems and landscapeslandscapesrich in biodiversity rich in biodiversity [resulting from] the co-adaptation of a [resulting from] the co-adaptation of a rural community with its environmentrural community with its environment

In short: In short: GIAHSs are GIAHSs are socio-ecologicalsocio-ecological agricultural agricultural systemssystems

FAO’s definition of GIAHS:FAO’s definition of GIAHS:

‘‘dynamic conservation’ is dynamic conservation’ is piloted in six sites, e.g.,piloted in six sites, e.g.,

Chiloe Islands, Chilli - potato Chiloe Islands, Chilli - potato systemssystems

Rice terrace systems:Rice terrace systems:Philippines–Ifugao; China–Philippines–Ifugao; China–Rice-FishRice-Fish

Maghreb Oases Maghreb Oases systemssystems

The assignment of GIAHS The assignment of GIAHS projects:projects:

Government Market

GIAHS

GIAHS

MarketGovernment

Culture

Project

Institutional

change

How?

Case: Gafsa Oasis in Tunesia

Gafsa town & oasis are over Gafsa town & oasis are over 2,000 years old2,000 years old

Traditional three-level cultivation Traditional three-level cultivation system:system:

-Palm trees-Palm trees

-Fruit crops-Fruit crops

-Annual crops-Annual crops

Threats to oasis system:Threats to oasis system:Palm & fruit tree logging; annual Palm & fruit tree logging; annual croppingcropping

NGO project: awareness raising NGO project: awareness raising about oasis system: promote about oasis system: promote multiple cropping layersmultiple cropping layers

NGO Project: Niche Market NGO Project: Niche Market Development for oasis productsDevelopment for oasis products

Chat with Oasis farmers: why Chat with Oasis farmers: why do you cut palm & fruit tree do you cut palm & fruit tree layers?layers?

Farmers tell that most land is under Farmers tell that most land is under absentee landowners, who employ absentee landowners, who employ labour for maximum 1-2 seasonslabour for maximum 1-2 seasons

… … effectiveness awareness effectiveness awareness raising & niche marketing?raising & niche marketing?

Q&D Reconstruction of Q&D Reconstruction of Land holding history Gafsa oasisLand 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

Existingcontext

What to do to address land tenure? What to do to address land tenure? Outcome Framework for Land Tenure Outcome Framework for Land Tenure Governance Mechanism:Governance Mechanism:

Agriculture labour legal protection

GIAHS Recognition

Tenure policy for agricultural labourers

Enforcement of tenure rights

GIAHS concept

Farmers’ communit

y

State Government InstitutionsLocal

government

Ministry of Agricultur

e

Ministry of Trade

FAO

Agriculture

labourers

Maintenance of multi-layered crop system

Secure land tenure for labourers

Viability of the Oasis system

Governance Mechanism Development Land Tenure Governance Mechanism Development Land Tenure for GIAHSfor GIAHSActor Activity Condition IndicatorsLocal levelAgriculture Labourer

Production through multi-layered cropping

Key issue: Key issue: Secure land Secure land tenuretenure

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-levelLocal Government Enforce land

tenure Policy & concept

Enforcement mechanism in place

National levelMinistries Develop law

enforcement system

Political support Policy in place

Global levelFAO, donors Support GIAHS

conservation discourse

Research & political support

GIAHS conservation concept in place

Possible Governance mechanism Possible Governance mechanism development development for “urgent issues” in oasis for “urgent issues” in oasis conservation:conservation:Water table managementWater table managementLand conversion to buildingsLand conversion to buildingsTourism/park development for Tourism/park development for towntown

Niche marketing of oasis Niche marketing of oasis productsproducts

ConclusionConclusion 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