International ancestral practices

Agroecology is international.

Agroecology is the ancestral knowledge of Indigenous peoples, campesinos, the African diaspora, and rural people.

Farmers, herders, fishers, gatherers, and foresters all over the world have tended the biodiversity of their regions for centuries to today.

These complex traditional knowledge systems are central in agroecology to be protected and restored.

These four examples are “Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems” (GIAHS). To learn about more systems around the world, visit http://www.fao.org/giahs/giahsaroundtheworld

Andean Agriculture

“Millennia of experience and selection by Indigenous communities in Peru have led to the domestication of a number of endemic species such as potatoes and quinoa. This knowledge includes three main agricultural systems, each one related to their respective altitude: maize crops (2800-3300 m.), potato crops (3,300-3800 m.) and the livestock area with high altitude crops such as quinua, cañihua (3,800-4500 m.). For each altitude, native selected crops are cultivated.”

Oldonyonokie/Olkeri and Engaresero Maasai Pastoralist Heritage Area (Kenya and Tanzania)

“In Southern Kenya, Maasai have developed an agro pastoral system for centuries. Their system integrates at the same time animals such as buffalos, goats and sheep with endemic species and food plants such as maize and beans. Depending on the climate, the needs of the animals and the community requires an important knowledge and understanding of nature.”

Gout Oasis system in El Oued, Algeria

“The ghout traditional hydro agricultural system consists in digging into the soil using wind knowledge to plant date palm at the top of the groundwater resources. This system integrates at the same time vegetable, cereal, fruit trees and date palm production through a complex multi layered organization. Divided in three levels, these mixed crops are sustainable looking at the soil and water resources.”

Dong’s Rice-Fish-Duck System (China)

The Rice-Fish-Duck system was developed in Congjiang county by Dong people. Growing up rice, fishes and ducks at the same time in paddies is an excellent ecosystem beneficial for human created sustainable development. It is also an economic system combined within a virtuous eco-cycle in which many traditional methods of farming and folk customs are harbored.