What we do

Our work in MED GIAHS started with the transfer of the joint strategy in sustainable tourism created in the VALSIPAM project which was developed in the frame of the SUDOE Interreg Programme, as MED GIAHS is a transfer project. We reviewed and adapted it with lessons learnt and also to the Mediterranean area. This has led to a MED-GIAHS strategy which is the basis of the MED GIAHS Network as it sets the tools and objectives to achieve measurable results on tourism and environmental terms.

A catalogue of touristic experiences was another product created in the former project. The methodology used and the results obtained were proved to be good and we have replicated it in MED GIAHS. Then, sustainable touristic resources of each territory in the frame of GIAHS sites have been identified, catalogued and contextualised to inform tourists about the different sustainable touristic activities they can experience in these unique sites. Thus, each partner has elaborated its local sustainable tourism catalogue also included in the transnational one.

Due the specific characteristics of the GIAHS sites that make them unique in the world, people in the territory (farmers, herders, producers, tourism businesses, technicians, administrations, associations, etc.) need to know about them and how to impulse them correctly. For that, a Joint Training Programme has been developed and implemented. It has increased the operational and knowledge skills of the stakeholders who play a leading role in the definition of the action plans, identifying the necessary type of training actions. It has defined the suitable formats, the essential contents and the target groups. Also, a Joint guide for action plans has been elaborated letting territories impulse actions that are coherent with the MED GIAHS strategy.

And, obviously, learning from each other has been another key element here, above all for the potential GIAHS sites. For that, we had study visits letting us increase our capacity and that of the local stakeholders in two different ways: going in-depth into the knowledge of the best practices of the three project GIAHS sites (Valence, Andalusia and Assisi-Spoleto) and generating a reflection of the participants on how companies are adding value to their products and services while preserving their unique ecosystem.

Our pilot areas directly participating in the project have been the following:

3 GIAHS sites recognised by FAO:

  • Malaga Raisin Production System in La Axarquía – Spain
  • Historical Irrigation System at l’Horta de València – Spain
  • Olive Grves of the Slopes between Assisi and Spoleto – Italy

And 3 potential GIAHS sites in Europe:

  • Agricultural Heritage System: Bulgarian Rose agroecosystem of Rose Valley region – Bulgaria
  • Katuns of Montenegro
  • Agricultural Heritage System: Gum Mastiha of Chios Island – Greece

In addition, the following GIAS sites recognised by FAO in Europe and in North Africa taking part in the MED GIAHS project as associated partners:

  • The Agricultural System Ancient Olive Trees Territorio Sénia – Spain
  • The Agricultural System of Valle Salado de Añana – Spain
  • Ghout Oasis system El Oued – Algeria
  • Argan-based agro-sylvo-pastoral system within the area of Ait Souab – Ait Mansour – Morocco
  • The ksour of Figuig: oasis and pastoral culture around the social management of water and land
  • Oases System in Atlas Mountains – Morocco
  • Gafsa Oases – Tunisia
  • Hanging gardens from Djebba El Olia – Tunisia
  • Ramli agricultural system in the lagoons of Ghar El Melh – Tunisia

All of them form the MED GIAHS Network which is the culmination of the whole project, its raison d’être. This network is a meeting place for cooperative learning addressed at agricultural heritage systems that want to promote sustainable tourism.

It is an integrated and joint solution to preserve GIAHS sites from threatening factors by a redefinition of tourism in a new more sustainable and innovative way aiming to contribute to the creation of more resilient livelihoods and diversifiction of the income or local communities.

Our network, however, is always open for other Mediterranean recognised GIAHS sites, candidates or potential ones.