Exploring the Role of Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems in Integrated Landscape Approaches

. The simplification of agricultural landscapes is a major factor in eroding the relational values connecting communities and their environments. Integrated landscape approaches help address these issues but struggle to balance conservation and production in agricultural systems. Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Sites (GIAHS) focus on preserving agricultural heritage in areas where traditional farming practices have maintained high agrobiodiversity and ensured food and livelihood security. These sites share features such as mosaic landscapes, community-based use of resources, and cultural traditions related to seasonal farming events, yet little is known about what sustains them today. This study aims to identify and classify key attributes of heritage farming systems to better understand their functioning as integrated landscape approaches. Using a Q-survey based on 34 statements and three open questions, we examined key features of heritage agricultural systems, the impacts of the GIAHS designation, and the challenges faced by local farming systems. We collected 31 responses from GIAHS community members, including experts and researchers, and identified four categories of GIAHS. Category 1 focused on product certification, category 2 was centered on producing staple foods with short marketing channels, and category 3 focused on exports. Category 4 was centered on traditions, cultural values, and reducing the impacts of climate change. Respondents shared that the designation was especially beneficial for creating awareness and stimulating policies for heritage and ecosystem preservation. It was also reported that land abandonment, the aging population, and climate change are common challenges faced by heritage farming systems. This study suggests that GIAHS share several elements with integrated landscape approaches, such as their focus on dynamic conservation, multifunctional land uses, and multi-level stakeholder engagement and their unique focus on heritage preservation may help to bridge conservation and production goals in agricultural systems.