Description of indigenous, adaptive and innovative approaches: The adaptation of the local communities to the conditions in the key area and its hinterland and whether such adaptations are sustainable in the long-term was assessed in the field through interviews and observations. Various management approaches and technologies – indigenous, adaptive and innovative – were considered, including water resource management practices, management of rangelands and grazing patterns, soil degradation identification, land suitability for agriculture, etc.
An Environmental Information System (EIS) based on a participatory geo-information system (GIS) is suggested to administer the required master database of the project. It is structured to manage all forms of information, of spatial (base maps, satellite imagery and the like), and non-spatial character (texts, tables, graphs, statistics and the like) from existing literature, previous projects, field observation, data analyses and their interpretations. This will facilitate the data archiving, analysis and query as well as combination of the scientific, administrative and social data obtained for the local inhabitants in one common repository. Implementing this GIS-database will enable comparative evaluation of study sites and dissemination of information amongst the partner institutions. The detailed comprehensive methodology of the project is described in the report of the UN University (UNU) in 2003.
One of the largest projects covering traditional knowledge issues has been launched by the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO). This initiative has been supported by UNESCO, UNDP, GEF, governmental and non-governmental organisations for global recognition, preservation and sustainable development of the Globally-Important Ingenious Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS Project).
Such systems comprise mainly crop or mobile animal-based agriculture which optimise resource use and mitigate the risk of overgrazing. These ingenious systems are well adapted to highly variable ecosystems, in particular, with significant climatic and seasonal variations. Such systems are intertwined with carefully adapted social institutions for access to common resources and ecosystems management. Deep knowledge of the dynamics of the ecosystems in the territory with highly specialised ecological niches is the basis for these lands’ traditional management.
Such outstanding and highly specific traditional management systems, or cultures have co-evolved over centuries with the landscape and its components. They are noteworthy for their contribution to biodiversity conservation, sustainable land and water and landscape management and the provision of food, livelihood security and quality of life. Many provide globally important goods and services well beyond their geographical limits.
Under the current circumstances from the perspective of the developing communities and their agricultural systems it is not so important to dwell upon the limits of applicability of local knowledge systems versus scientific knowledge. What is more interesting and relevant is how to develop approaches that successfully integrate the comparative strengths of both types of systems. These attempts need to be participatory and inclusive by definition and would have implications for the role of the expert, moving from a provider of information to a nexus between scientific knowledge system and local communities.
One more step in this direction is to be made under the European Landscape Convention. It is aiming at the protection of the rural landscapes, as well as local land use practices and management systems. In the Guide on Rural Heritage, prepared under the Convention, the local practices, traditions, knowledge and technologies are considered as most important heritage items. The entire document is earmarked by an idea of the heritage protection, in particular preservation of the living heritage as a most important component of the sustainable development.
