1. Institutional Development for Agricultural Heritage Conservation Wageningen International Frank van Schoubroeck and ArendJan van Bodegom

2. Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) GIAHS is an FAO initiative to Define & recognise AHS Contribute to “dyanamic conservation” of such systems

3.  Remarkable land use systems and landscapes  rich in biodiversity  [resulting from] the co-adaptation of a rural community with its environment In short: GIAHSs are socio-ecological agricultural systems FAO’s definition of GIAHS:

4. ‘dynamic conservation’ is piloted in six sites, e.g., Chiloe Islands, Chilli - potato systems

5. Rice terrace systems: Philippines–Ifugao; China–Rice- Fish

6. Maghreb Oases systems

7. The assignment of GIAHS projects: Government Market GIAHS Market Government Culture Proje ct Institutional change How?

8. Case: Gafsa Oasis in Tunesia

9. Gafsa town & oasis are over 2,000 years old

10. Traditional three-level cultivation system: -Palm trees -Fruit crops -Annual crops

11. Threats to oasis system: Palm & fruit tree logging; annual cropping

12. NGO project: awareness raising about oasis system: promote multiple cropping layers

13. NGO Project: Niche Market Development for oasis products

14. Chat with Oasis farmers: why do you cut palm & fruit tree layers?

15. Farmers tell that most land is under absentee landowners, who employ labour for maximum 1-2 seasons … effectiveness awareness raising & niche marketing?

16. Q&D Reconstruction of Land holding history Gafsa oasis Traditionally: local chief system administered land holding 1950s: State enforced land holding certification and undermined traditional system Now: absentee landowners keep labourers “unattached” State does not enforce labourer rights Thus, labourers invest for short-term only, kill palm trees: Thus, the oasis system disintegrates, even if under different conditions it is viable and sustainable

17. Existing context What to do to address land tenure? Outcome Framework for Land Tenure Governance Mechanism: Agriculture labour legal protection GIAHS Recognition Tenure policy for agricultural labourers Enforcement of tenure rights GIAHS concept Farmers’ communit y State Government Institutions Local governmen t Ministry of Agricultur e Ministry of Trade FAO Agricultur e labourers Maintenance of multi- layered crop system Secure land tenure for labourers Viability of the Oasis system

18. Governance Mechanism Development Land Tenure for GIAHS ActorActivityConditionIndicators Local level Agriculture Labourer Production through multi- layered cropping Key issue: Secure land tenure Number of years families work on the same plot Farmers’ organisation Defend and monitor labourers’ rights Enforcement support by Government Regular meeting, reporting to local Government Meso-level Local GovernmentEnforce land tenure Policy & concept Enforcement mechanism in place National level MinistriesDevelop law enforcement system Political supportPolicy in place Global level FAO, donorsSupport GIAHS conservation discourse Research & political support GIAHS conservation concept in place

19. Possible Governance mechanism development for “urgent issues” in oasis conservation: Water table management Water table management Land conversion to buildings Land conversion to buildings Tourism/park development for town Tourism/park development for town Niche marketing of oasis products Niche marketing of oasis products

20. Conclusion Changing institutional environments undermine Agricultural Heritage Systems (– and possibly most Low External Input Agriculture) Result is agri-system disintegration & loss of livelihood opportunities for large groups of of farmers A possible approach is multiple actors realising governance mechanisms to address urgent issues Upcoming opportunities such as tourism, niche marketing etc. are “urgent issues” for the viability of agricultural heritage systems