http://www.fao.org/giahs/en/ This presentation was presented during the Joint Meeting of Steering and Scientific Commitee that took place at FAO headquarters 28-29 April 2015. The presentation was made by Mr. Stefano Grego, WAHF

1. WORLD AGRICULTURAL HERITAGE FOUNDATION
WAHF

2. The Foundation intends promoting, encouraging, helping emerge, supporting,
enhancing and developing research and higher education within the disciplines
of the Programme “GIAHS - Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems”
TO BE PARTNER OF GIAHS
WAHF will promote and support basic and applied research, project
development and verification, innovation and the creation of international
masters and doctorate degree programmes pursuing sustainable development
and the principles of the sustainability science.

4. SUSTAINABILITY SCIENCE
Like “agricultural science” and “health science,” sustainability science is a field defined
by the problems rather than by the disciplines it employs. From its core focus on
advancing understanding of coupled human–environment systems, sustainability
science has reached out with focused problem-solving efforts based on urgent human
needs.

5. • Providing technical assistance to GIAHS
• Planning and organizing conferences, workshops and
seminars at the national , regional or global level;
promoting policy and strategic dialogue and
interchange;
• Developing and implementing classification systems for
products and activities related to GIAHS.
WORLD AGRICULTURAL HERITAGE FOUNDATION

6. • Networking for GIAHS: strengthening overall networking at global,
regional, and national levels, with academic and research centers, and
with Civil Society Organizations (among other Slow Food movement);
participating in the international network of Sustainability Science;

7. • Developing research activities, such as :
• modeling and systems analysis of the territorial agro-ecological and geo-
metric complexities;
• studying biodiversity issues;
• assessing models and mechanisms of “community management”;
• defining methodologies of dynamic conservation and adaptation in the
context of changing environment, globally and locally;
• identifying technological solutions aimed at supporting good practices in
GIAHS with special reference to water supply and primary and renewable
energy resources and sustainable uses;

8. • Capacity building, training, testing, demonstration and awareness
raising about GIAHS;
• Higher Education Training: the Interuniversity Center for Research on
Sustainability Development (CIRPS) collaborate with the WAHF in
undertaking training courses at several levels : Master, Doctoral and
Post-Doctoral levels. A University certificate will eventually ratify the
training with due recognition by GIAHS Secretariat for themes
specifically devoted to dynamic conservation of agriculture heritage
systems and related issues of climate, energy, environment and
sustainable development.