FAO to award GIAHS certificate to Traditional Garden of
Qazvin

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
(FAO) is set to award the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems
(GIAHS) certificate to Traditional Garden of Qazvin with an area of two
thousand- and 600-hectares surrounding East, West and South of the northwestern
Qazvin province.

“GIAS is the living heritage of the
world and our ancestors have passed this heritage to the next generations and
we have a duty to preserve it,” Ali Kiani-Rad, the chairman of Iran’s
Agricultural Planning, Economic and Rural Development Research Institute
(APERDRI), said on Sunday announcing the FAO’s decision to grant the
certificate of recognition to the new GIAS site in Iran.

The reason for calling the garden “Traditional Garden” is
related to the traditional system of irrigation which is being used in the
Garden. In the past, this Garden had been watered by 5 rivers. Each of these
rivers irrigated a part of the Garden. But due to the city development and
water harvesting system by upstream villages, now the traditional garden of
Qazvin is facing with dehydration.

The Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS)
are communities that base their livelihoods and food security on their close
relationship with their surroundings. Through the GIAHS program, which
celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2022, FAO has designated over 70 sites in 24
countries.

To be selected, each GIAHS candidate area must meet five
criteria established by an independent Scientific Advisory Group: food and
livelihood security, agro-biodiversity, local and traditional knowledge systems
cultures, value systems and social organizations, landscapes, and seascapes
features.

If selected, GIAHS are expected to fulfill their role in
revitalizing rural communities and promoting sustainable rural development,
with effective implementation of their action plans.

The GIAHS network is proving to be an effective model for
collaboration, with appropriate local governance systems while attracting
international and national partners, projects, and actions to increase
visibility and support farmers on the ground.