Introducing Japanese Nationally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems

What are Japanese Nationally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems?
Why are Japanese Nationally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems important?
Criteria for Japanese Nationally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems

What are Japanese Nationally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems?

Japanese Nationally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (J-NIAHS) are a domestic version of the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) concept, specifically focusing on agricultural systems within Japan that have significant cultural, historical, and ecological value. These systems are recognized for their unique methods of sustainable agriculture, their role in preserving biodiversity, and their contribution to the cultural and social fabric of their regions.

The process for J-NIAHS is similar to GIAHS, involving inspection from experts of GIAHS and recognition from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. Whereas GIAHS requires a final approval from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, J-NIAHS designation is finalized by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

As of September 2023, there are 24 sites in Japan designated as Japanese Nationally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems.

Why are Japanese Nationally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems important?

The J-NIAHS hold a significant place not just in agriculture but in the broader tapestry of Japan’s cultural and environmental heritage. These systems exemplify the enduring wisdom of traditional farming practices, honed over generations. They stand as quiet yet powerful reminders of a more sustainable interaction with our natural world, one deeply rooted in the rhythms of the environment.

At their core, NIAHS are bastions of biodiversity, safeguarding unique and often endangered species of flora and fauna. This conservation role extends beyond the preservation of species; it encompasses the very ecosystems that sustain these agricultural landscapes.

These heritage systems also embody the rich cultural and historical narratives of the regions they inhabit. Through them, we see a vivid reflection of community life, traditions, and local customs, often celebrated in festivals and culinary heritage that draw visitors and scholars alike.

Educationally, NIAHS provide invaluable insights into sustainable agricultural practices and environmental stewardship. They offer living classrooms where lessons from the past inform present and future agricultural innovations.

Economically, these heritage sites contribute significantly to local communities. They foster agro-tourism and promote regional products, thereby supporting rural economies and providing new avenues for economic development.

Criteria for Japanese Nationally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems

There are a total of eight criteria to satisfy to be designated as J-NIAHS. Because the J-NIAHS is based on the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS), the first five criteria overlap. They are:

Food and livelihood security: The system should contribute to food and livelihood security for the communities involved.
Agro-biodiversity: The system should be endowed with globally significant biodiversity and genetic resources for food and agriculture.
Local and traditional knowledge systems: These systems should incorporate and sustain local and traditional knowledge and practices.
Cultures, value systems, and social organizations: They should reflect the cultures, value systems, and social organizations of the communities they are part of.
Landscape and seascape features: The system should include significant landscape and seascape features developed through the harmony of nature and humans

J-NIAHS criterion adds three more that are oriented for Japan. They are:

Resilience to change: A high resilience to disasters to ensure the agricultural system is reliably conserved.
Participation of various entities: While the agricultural systems are inherited by local residents, but mechanisms are present to involve different stakeholders.
Promotion of the sixth industrialization: Regional revitalization and conservation of agricultural systems through the integration of primary, secondary and tertiary industries.

[Reference] Japanese Nationally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries)