Tehran - The global number of Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) recognized by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has risen to 104 following the designation of two new sites in Chile, according to Iran’s Agricultural Planning, Economics and Rural Development Research Institute.

 

Chile now hosts three GIAHS sites, while Latin America has 11 across five countries.

 

The first newly recognized system is an integrated camelid herding and Andean farming system in northern Chile, maintained by Aymara, Quechua, and Likan Antai communities. Located at elevations of 3,000-4,500 meters, it combines llama and alpaca pastoralism with crops such as quinoa, maize, and potatoes, using rotational grazing, terracing, and community-based water management. Women play a central role in seed conservation and knowledge transfer.

 

The second designation recognizes the Mapuche-Pehuenche ancestral system in southern Chile, which integrates biodiverse home gardens, wild plant harvesting, and seasonal livestock movement. The system is closely linked to the pehuén tree (Araucaria araucana), whose edible seeds are central to local nutrition and culture, and reflects principles of collective stewardship and ecological balance.