Study Progress of Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (IAHS): A Literature Analysis

Huiqi Song,Youcheng Chen,Yongxun Zhang,Pengwei Chen

doi:10.3390/su131910859

Abstract

Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (IAHS), as a new type of heritage, has received extensive attention from the international scientific communities. With the increase of IAHS research, reviews on it have been conducted by many scholars. However, visualized research to show future research trends of IAHS are lacking. Therefore, using metrology analysis methods, this study aims at presenting the progress of research and the general development trends of Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) in the world from 2006 to 2020 to provide ideas for the development of countries or regions in the future. This study mapped 292 literatures from Web of Science core collections from 2006 to 2020 by CiteSpace software. The results show that research on IAHS from 2006 to 2020 experienced two stages: the fluctuating increase stage, and the steady growth stage. Author groups from China, Italy, the USA, Japan, etc., contributed many papers on IAHS. Institutions including the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the University of Florence and the University of Padua in Italy, etc., have a relatively high influence on international IAHS research. Agriculture Ecosystems & Environment is the most cited journal. Agricultural Heritage Systems, regeneration, agriculture, agroforestry, dry-stone wall, social capital, instability, and agricultural biodiversity have been hotspots in the past 15 years. The research themes mainly focus on GIAHS, tourism, livelihood assets, and direct georeferencing. Authors in different regions concern different research themes. In the future, the fields of applications and microscopic views, social sciences, applications of standardized quantitative research methods, and broadened international cooperation should be paid more attention.

Highlights

To deal with global environmental changes caused by modern agriculture with monocropping and a lot of chemical input, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United
The Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) was defined as a unique land use system and agricultural landscape formed under the long-term coevolution and dynamic adaptation of rural areas and their environments
By the end of December 2020, there were 62 GIAHS distributed in 22 countries covering 5 continents

Summary

Introduction

Nations (FAO) initiated the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS). The GIAHS was defined as a unique land use system and agricultural landscape formed under the long-term coevolution and dynamic adaptation of rural areas and their environments. The system and landscape are rich in biodiversity and could meet the needs of local socio-economic and cultural development. It is conducive to promoting regional sustainable development and is of great value to improve the rural ecological environment [1]. To become a GIAHS, a traditional agricultural system needs to meet five criteria, including having food and livelihood security; biodiversity and ecosystem function; knowledge systems and adapted technologies; culture, value systems and social organizations (Agriculture); and remarkable landscapes and land and water resources management features from FAO [2].

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Results

Conclusion