The FAO International Forum on Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) was held in Beijing on 9-12 June, 2011, organized by FAO in partnership with the Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research(IGSNRR), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and the Local governments of the GIAHS sites in China. 150 experts representing 120 organisms, including 70 member countries and 50 organizations, took part in the event. The Forum discussed issues concerning agriculture, the right to water and the right to food, in the pursuit of the MDGs and the forthcoming Rio + 20 process for sustainable development. On 11 June, GIAHS Charter was released.

The FAO GIAHS Initiative aims to empower smallholder family farming communities, indigenous peoples and minority and tribal groups to dynamically conserve their traditional agricultural systems and to create an economic stake in the conservation of (agricultural) biodiversity so that nature and people can prosper together.

At present, 16 traditional agricultural systems have been listed on GIAHS in the world. Four of them are in China, including Qingtian Rice-ish Culture System in Zhejiang Province, Hani Rice Terraces System in Yunnan Province, Wannian Rice Culture System in Jiangxi Province and Congjiang Dong’s Rice-fish-duck System in Guizhou Province. Beijing Xiedao Eco-green Resort was nominated as GIAHS Regional Training Center by FAO. Also, Pu’er Tea Agricultural System in Yunnan Province, Aohan Dryland Agricultural System and Xuanhua Traditional Grape Gardens System were listed as GIAHS Candidates.

China is one of the first pilot countries of GIAHS Initiative. The National Focal Point Institutin is Ministry of Agriculture and the Project Office is affiliated at IGSNRR, CAS. After six years efforts, the great progresses in scientific research on GIAHS and conservation, searching for dynamic conservation, propaganda and awareness raising, identification and application of new pilot sites, subject development and education in China are appreciated. Mr. Parviz Koohafkan said, “The national and local development activities carried out and on-going activities in China has been a model for other GIAHS participating countries, not only in the Asia region, but also in the regions of Latin America, North Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa.”