IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v12y2020i14p5656-d384266.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Enhancing Sustainability in Traditional Agriculture: Indicators for Monitoring the Conservation of Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) in Japan

Author

Listed:
  • Sheryl Rose C. Reyes

    (United Nations University Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-8925, Japan)

  • Aya Miyazaki

    (Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Komaba, Tokyo 153-8902, Japan)

  • Evonne Yiu

    (United Nations University Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-8925, Japan)

  • Osamu Saito

    (United Nations University Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-8925, Japan
    Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES), Hayama, Kanagawa 240-0115, Japan
    Institute for Future Initiatives, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan)

Abstract

The advent of modern technology in agriculture has increased the efficiency of our food production but also poses pressures on the sustainability of our planet. The Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has been developed to safeguard traditional agricultural systems of global importance, which harnesses the harmonious relationship between people and nature. First launched in the World Summit on Sustainable Development in 2002 to address the sustainable development of family agriculture and traditional farming practices for developing countries, it now has 59 sites located in 22 different countries as of March 2020. Despite almost two decades of its implementation, FAO has not set any requirements nor given guidance on monitoring of the conservation of GIAHS, but leaves it to the discretion of each GIAHS site to conduct voluntary self-evaluation. This study is a comprehensive review of all 11 GIAHS application proposals in Japan, which aims to (1) conduct characteristic analysis to identify elements and perspectives related to the GIAHS selection criteria, (2) understand the motivations and socioeconomic conditions, including challenges and opportunities related to the GIAHS application, so as to (3) propose a set of indicators and perspectives to address these challenges and opportunities for improving the application, monitoring, and management of the GIAHS. The study finds that motivations for applying to GIAHS designation are primarily driven by push factors of abandonment of traditional farming practices and farmlands and underuse of farming resources resulting from Japan’s decreasing and aging rural population, as well as the pull factor of biodiversity conservation. The importance of continuing traditional farming practices, cultural heritage, and involvement of various stakeholders are emphasized against the background of an aging farming population, rural-urban migration, youth exodus, poor maintenance of farmlands, and transferring traditional and local knowledge. By identifying the drivers of change and understanding the current socioeconomic conditions of the agricultural heritage systems in Japan as portrayed in the GIAHS application proposals, the study has clarified the strengths and challenges of the sustainability of these systems. Based on the analysis, the study proposes a comprehensive set of indicators to be considered when developing the GIAHS proposals and for updating the action plan for monitoring and managing the GIAHS sites. It is expected that the findings and recommended indicators will contribute not only in the improvement of the information integrity of future GIAHS proposals, but also as reference for the development and monitoring of GIAHS conservation action plans.

Suggested Citation

  • Sheryl Rose C. Reyes & Aya Miyazaki & Evonne Yiu & Osamu Saito, 2020. "Enhancing Sustainability in Traditional Agriculture: Indicators for Monitoring the Conservation of Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) in Japan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(14), pages 1-28, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:14:p:5656-:d:384266
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/14/5656/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/14/5656/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Nora J. Mitchell & Brenda Barrett, 2015. "Heritage Values and Agricultural Landscapes: Towards a New Synthesis," Landscape Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 40(6), pages 701-716, August.
    2. Ryo Kohsaka & Hikaru Matsuoka, 2015. "Analysis of Japanese Municipalities With Geopark, MAB, and GIAHS Certification," SAGE Open, , vol. 5(4), pages 21582440156, November.
    3. Miguel A. Altieri & Clara I. Nicholls, 2017. "The adaptation and mitigation potential of traditional agriculture in a changing climate," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 140(1), pages 33-45, January.
    4. Kamiyama, Chiho & Hashimoto, Shizuka & Kohsaka, Ryo & Saito, Osamu, 2016. "Non-market food provisioning services via homegardens and communal sharing in satoyama socio-ecological production landscapes on Japan’s Noto peninsula," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 17(C), pages 185-196.
    5. Yuanmei Jiao & Yinping Ding & Zhiqin Zha & Toshiya Okuro, 2019. "Crises of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in Satoyama Landscape of Japan: A Review on the Role of Management," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-18, January.
    6. Hisako Nomura & Nguyen Bich Hong & Mitsuyasu Yabe, 2018. "Effective Use and Management of Kunisaki Peninsula Usa GIAHS Long Trail—A Sustainable Tourism Model leading to Regional Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(2), pages 1-14, February.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Maharjan, Keshav Lall & Gonzalvo, Clarisse & Aala, Wilson, 2021. "Leveraging Japanese Sado Island Farmers’ Giahs Inclusivity By Understanding Their Perceived Involvement," 2021 Conference, August 17-31, 2021, Virtual 315133, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    2. Aikaterini Gkoltsiou & Eleni Athanasiadou & Angeliki T. Paraskevopoulou, 2021. "Agricultural Heritage Landscapes of Greece: Three Case Studies and Strategic Steps towards Their Acknowledgement, Conservation and Management," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-28, May.
    3. Wenjun Jiao & Xiao Yang & Qingwen Min, 2022. "A Review of the Progress in Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) Monitoring," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-16, August.
    4. Sittichok Plaiphum & Roengchai Tansuchat, 2023. "Cultural Capital of Sea Salt Farming in Ban Laem District of Phetchaburi Province as per the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-27, August.
    5. Antonio Santoro & Qingyi Yu & Francesco Piras & Beatrice Fiore & Alessandra Bazzurro & Mauro Agnoletti, 2022. "From Flood Control System to Agroforestry Heritage System: Past, Present and Future of the Mulberry-Dykes and Fishponds System of Huzhou City, China," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-22, October.
    6. Rafael Ninno Muniz & Carlos Tavares da Costa Júnior & William Gouvêa Buratto & Ademir Nied & Gabriel Villarrubia González, 2023. "The Sustainability Concept: A Review Focusing on Energy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-22, September.
    7. Wenjun Jiao & Zhounan Yu & Yehong Sun & Yang Liu, 2023. "An Analytical Framework for Formulating Conservation and Development Measures for Important Agricultural Heritage Systems," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-19, March.
    8. Martina Bianca Fuhrmann-Aoyagi & Kenji Miura & Kazuo Watanabe, 2024. "Sustainability in Japan’s Agriculture: An Analysis of Current Approaches," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-26, January.
    9. Manrique Anticona, Cintya Elizabeth & Yagüe Blanco, José Luis & Pascual Castaño, Isabel Cristina, 2023. "Characterization of potential Spanish territories for creating a national network associated with the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 131(C).
    10. Erik Aschenbrand, 2022. "How Can We Promote Sustainable Regional Development and Biodiversity Conservation in Regions with Demographic Decline? The Case of UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Elbe River Landscape Brandenburg, Germany," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-18, September.
    11. Rosyi Damayanti T. Manningtyas & Katsunori Furuya, 2022. "Traditional Ecological Knowledge versus Ecological Wisdom: Are They Dissimilar in Cultural Landscape Research?," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-16, July.
    12. José Martins & Catarina Gonçalves & Jani Silva & Ramiro Gonçalves & Frederico Branco, 2022. "Digital Ecosystem Model for GIAHS: The Barroso Agro-Sylvo-Pastoral System," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-20, August.
    13. Roengchai Tansuchat & Sittichok Plaiphum, 2023. "Assessing Food and Livelihood Security in Sea Salt Community: A GIAHS Study in Ban Laem, Phetchaburi, Thailand," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(21), pages 1-29, October.
    14. Huiqi Song & Pengwei Chen & Yongxun Zhang & Youcheng Chen, 2021. "Study Progress of Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (IAHS): A Literature Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-22, September.
    15. Keshav Lall Maharjan & Clarisse Mendoza Gonzalvo & Wilson Florendo Aala, 2021. "Leveraging Japanese Sado Island Farmers’ GIAHS Inclusivity by Understanding Their Perceived Involvement," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(20), pages 1-15, October.
    16. Yuji Hara & Shinji Oki & Yoshiyuki Uchiyama & Kyuichi Ito & Yuto Tani & Asako Naito & Yuki Sampei, 2021. "Plant Diversity in the Dynamic Mosaic Landscape of an Agricultural Heritage System: The Minabe-Tanabe Ume System," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-17, May.
    17. Raphael Ocelli Pinheiro & Luiza F. A. de Paula & Marco Giardino, 2022. "Agricultural Heritage: Contrasting National and International Programs in Brazil and Italy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-24, May.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Huiqi Song & Pengwei Chen & Yongxun Zhang & Youcheng Chen, 2021. "Study Progress of Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (IAHS): A Literature Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-22, September.
    2. Mindy Jewell Price & Alex Latta & Andrew Spring & Jennifer Temmer & Carla Johnston & Lloyd Chicot & Jessica Jumbo & Margaret Leishman, 2022. "Agroecology in the North: Centering Indigenous food sovereignty and land stewardship in agriculture “frontiers”," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 39(4), pages 1191-1206, December.
    3. Baccar, Mariem & Raynal, Hélène & Sekhar, Muddu & Bergez, Jacques-Eric & Willaume, Magali & Casel, Pierre & Giriraj, P. & Murthy, Sanjeeva & Ruiz, Laurent, 2023. "Dynamics of crop category choices reveal strategies and tactics used by smallholder farmers in India to cope with unreliable water availability," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 211(C).
    4. Islam, Zeenatul & Sabiha, Noor E & Salim, Ruhul, 2022. "Integrated environment-smart agricultural practices: A strategy towards climate-resilient agriculture," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 59-72.
    5. Aleksandar Valjarević & Jasmina Petrović & Olivera Marković-Savić & Dejan Filipović & Dušan Ristić & Dragan Radovanović & Marijana Azdejković, 2020. "Roma Inner Migration Tradition Between Social Inclusion and the Protection of Natural Resources," SAGE Open, , vol. 10(2), pages 21582440209, May.
    6. Max Ajl, 2021. "A People’s Green New Deal: Obstacles and Prospects," Agrarian South: Journal of Political Economy, Centre for Agrarian Research and Education for South, vol. 10(2), pages 371-390, August.
    7. Alan F. Hamlet & Nima Ehsani & Jennifer L. Tank & Zachariah Silver & Kyuhyun Byun & Ursula H. Mahl & Shannon L. Speir & Matt T. Trentman & Todd V. Royer, 2024. "Effects of climate and winter cover crops on nutrient loss in agricultural watersheds in the midwestern U.S," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 177(1), pages 1-21, January.
    8. Dennis, Matthew & James, Philip, 2017. "Ecosystem services of collectively managed urban gardens: Exploring factors affecting synergies and trade-offs at the site level," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 26(PA), pages 17-26.
    9. Beichen Ge & Congjin Wang & Yuhong Song, 2023. "Ecosystem Services Research in Rural Areas: A Systematic Review Based on Bibliometric Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-18, March.
    10. Sandra Fatorić & Erin Seekamp, 2017. "Are cultural heritage and resources threatened by climate change? A systematic literature review," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 142(1), pages 227-254, May.
    11. Osamu Saito & Chiho Kamiyama & Shizuka Hashimoto, 2018. "Non-Market Food Provision and Sharing in Japan’s Socio-Ecological Production Landscapes," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(1), pages 1-9, January.
    12. Hyejung Chang, 2020. "Propositions for the Aesthetic Continuity of Urban Landscapes," SAGE Open, , vol. 10(3), pages 21582440209, July.
    13. Patricio Sarmiento-Mateos & Cecilia Arnaiz-Schmitz & Cristina Herrero-Jáuregui & Francisco D. Pineda & María F. Schmitz, 2019. "Designing Protected Areas for Social–Ecological Sustainability: Effectiveness of Management Guidelines for Preserving Cultural Landscapes," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-20, May.
    14. García-Ruiz, J.M. & Lasanta, T. & Nadal-Romero, E. & Lana-Renault, N. & Álvarez-Farizo, B., 2020. "Rewilding and restoring cultural landscapes in Mediterranean mountains: Opportunities and challenges," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 99(C).
    15. Younis, Sherif A. & Kim, Ki-Hyun & Shaheen, Sabry M. & Antoniadis, Vasileios & Tsang, Yiu Fai & Rinklebe, Jörg & Deep, Akash & Brown, Richard J.C., 2021. "Advancements of nanotechnologies in crop promotion and soil fertility: Benefits, life cycle assessment, and legislation policies," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 152(C).
    16. Eva O. Arceo-Gómez & Danae Hernández-Cortés & Alejandro López-Feldman, 2020. "Droughts and rural households’ wellbeing: evidence from Mexico," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 162(3), pages 1197-1212, October.
    17. Chandni Singh & James Ford & Debora Ley & Amir Bazaz & Aromar Revi, 2020. "Assessing the feasibility of adaptation options: methodological advancements and directions for climate adaptation research and practice," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 162(2), pages 255-277, September.
    18. Heitor Mancini Teixeira & Leonardo Van den Berg & Irene Maria Cardoso & Ardjan J. Vermue & Felix J. J. A. Bianchi & Marielos Peña-Claros & Pablo Tittonell, 2018. "Understanding Farm Diversity to Promote Agroecological Transitions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-20, November.
    19. Upendra Bom & John Tiefenbacher & Shashidhar Belbase, 2023. "Individual and community perceptions of climate change in Lower Mustang, Nepal," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 25(7), pages 5997-6031, July.
    20. Diana Harding & Kevin Muhamad Lukman & Matheus Jingga & Yuta Uchiyama & Jay Mar D. Quevedo & Ryo Kohsaka, 2022. "Urban Gardening and Wellbeing in Pandemic Era: Preliminary Results from a Socio-Environmental Factors Approach," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-15, March.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:14:p:5656-:d:384266. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.