The Agricultural Heritage Symposium is scheduled to take place in Nanao City, Ishikawa Prefecture, on November 10, 2023. As a part of this event, Ishikawa Prefecture and UNU-IAS OUIK will co-host a “Youth Session” aimed at fostering an exchange of ideas among high school students from agricultural heritage areas.
On October 19, 21 high school students from 11 schools across 7 Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) sites and 1 Japanese Nationally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems site gathered online for a preliminary study session in preparation for the Youth Session. They engaged in discussions around questions such as “What is Important Agricultural Heritage Systems?”, “How did the youth session come about?”, and “What will we do on the day of the event?” The session began with an introduction to the research conducted by UNU-IAS OUIK.
The first speaker, Mr. Akira Nagata, a Research Fellow at UNU-IAS OUIK, delivered a lecture titled “What is Important Agricultural Heritage Systems?”. The presentation covered topics such as the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) recognition program, GIAHS sites both within Japan and internationally, and what kind of ripple effects (positive impacts) result from receiving GIAHS designation.
Following this, OUIK researcher Ms. Koyama provided an overview of the GIAHS Youth Summit held in FY2021 and its outcomes. She also introduced the “Opinion Exchange Meeting among High School Students from Important Agricultural Heritage Systems Designated Areas,” which took place last fiscal year.
In the second half of the session, participants were divided into groups to introduce themselves and share their impressions and opinions based on the earlier presentations. They then presented their insights to one another. Some participants expressed surprise at the abundance of GIAHS in Asia, while others were grateful for the opportunity to engage in discussions with fellow students and appreciated the chance to share their views with adults.
Finally, Mr. Fukuda and Ms. Koyama wrapped up the session by outlining the day’s agenda and related preparations. Several participants expressed their enthusiasm for visiting Ishikawa Prefecture in November, and the overall meeting served as a valuable preparation for the upcoming in-person Youth Session event.
