Doojduan SASANAVIN, the Deputy Permanent Secretary of Thailand’s Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, led a delegation for the Agricultural Heritage System that visited the Institute of Geographic Science and Natural Resources Research (IGSNRR), Chinese Academy of Science (CAS) on June 10, 2018. The Thai delegation, representatives from China’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, and experts of IGSNRR, 23 people in total, held a workshop.

During the workshop, Deputy Director of IGSNRR, Prof. GAO Xing welcomed the delegation from Thailand and gave a brief introduction to IGSNRR and the focus of its research efforts. Prof. LIU Moucheng spoke about the progress and experience China has had with designation and conservation work for the Agricultural Heritage System, and he summarized the situation at the 15 Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS) sites in China.

Cherdsak KUARAKSA, the Deputy Director of the College of Local Wisdom of Thaksin University, introduced a candidate GIAHS site in Thailand called “Thaksin Wetland-Buffalo System”. He was followed by Kasem PRASUTSANGCHAN, a consultant of the Bureau of Foreign Agricultural Affairs of the Permanent Secretary, who discussed another candidate GIAHS site in Thailand called “Nan Changwat Agriculture-Forest-Tea System”. These presentations gave an overview of the two sites and outlined the GIAHS proposal reports that are being prepared for submission by Thailand.

LI Wenhua, member of CAS, expressed appreciation and support for the efforts Thailand is making for GIAHS designation. He says, “Agriculture in Thailand and China have many similarities, both countries are devoted to intensive cultivation and have long histories; we are very close. The two proposed sites are typical of traditional agricultural systems in Thailand, and completely meet the standards for GIAHS designation.”

In addition, he provided the Thai delegation with an introduction to China’s conservation and development strategy for the Agricultural Heritage System and noted China’s progress to date.

Doojduan SASANAVIN expressed his great appreciation for China’s designation and conservation work for GIAHS. He also declared his willingness to strengthen communication and cooperation between Thailand and China with the two countries working together to move forward with GIAHS designation and conservation work in Thailand.