From 20 to 22 November, the city of Trevi (Italy) hosted the MED-GIAHS Final Conference, the 5th Steering Committee, the 4th Interregional Seminar and the 3rd Field Visit, an event that brought together institutional representatives, Mediterranean GIAHS sites and international experts to share progress, strategies and results of the project.
Within this framework, one of the most significant milestones was the official presentation of the ‘Med GIAHS Network’: a cooperation structure created to strengthen the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) of the Mediterranean and enhance their sustainability, visibility and resilience.
A decisive step for Mediterranean collaboration
The ‘Med GIAHS Network’ was presented as a common space for technical exchange, joint planning and the creation of shared tools among all GIAHS sites and potential ones. During the official session, the main instruments that make up this network were introduced:
- A strategy for sustainable agricultural tourism in Med GIAHS sites
- A joint catalogue of sustainable agricultural tourism
- A common guide for the definition of action plans
- A joint training plan and pedagogical guide
These elements consolidate a platform that will enable the territories to work in a coordinated way, share methodologies and move forward more sustainable and cohesive management models.
Impact and future perspectives
The creation of the ‘Med GIAHS Network’ was accompanied by a space for reflection on the impact of the project in the territories and the opportunities that may open up from now on for GIAHS sites and the pontential ones.
In this regard, representatives from different territories shared experiences and highlighted the value of this network as a tool to strengthen the agricultural, cultural and landscape identity of the Mediterranean.
A meeting shaped by the territory
The conference concluded with various field visits to historic olive groves and agricultural experiences in Trevi and Assisi, which helped to highlight the living heritage that the ‘Med GIAHS Network’ seeks to protect and promote.
