Mediterranean GIAHS sites network to promote sustainable agricultural tourism

Programme 2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-B EURO Mediterranean (EURO MED)

Date of latest update: 2026-06-22

Description

Description (FR):

Les Systèmes Ingénieux du Patrimoine Agricole Mondial (SIPAM) sont des agroécosystèmes habités par des communautés vivant dans une relation complexe avec leur territoire. Ces sites sont des systèmes résilients caractérisés par une agrobiodiversité remarquable, des savoirs traditionnels, des cultures et des paysages inestimables, gérés durablement par les agriculteurs, les éleveurs, les pêcheurs et les populations forestières de manière à contribuer à leurs moyens de subsistance et à leur sécurité alimentaire. L'enjeu principal du projet est de renforcer le rôle du tourisme durable dans la préservation de ces incroyables sites agricoles qui font face à plusieurs menaces grâce à une stratégie de valorisation du tourisme agricole durable adaptée, améliorée et validée. Dans les sites SIPAM, une gestion délicate est nécessaire : les moyens de subsistance des sites peuvent dépendre des visiteurs venant d’ailleurs pour diversifier leurs activités économiques, mais le tourisme est un facteur de pression sur ces systèmes fragiles. La durabilité est la clé. Le principal résultat du projet sera la création d'un réseau MED-GIAHS innovant basé sur le tourisme qui améliorera la durabilité des sites e contribuera à reconstruire et à redéfinir le tourisme d'une manière nouvelle et plus durable. Les résultats du projet seront transférables à tous les sites MED-GIAHS, principalement la stratégie de tourisme durable et le réseau d'échange et de soutien. Les résultats attendus du projet sont une guide conjoint pour définir des plans d'action locaux, des catalogues de bonnes pratiques et du matériel de formation et d'information. L'approche transnationale et le soutien de la FAO contribueront à résoudre les problèmes communs à tous les sites SIPAM et à atteindre les résultats escomptés du projet. À savoir, créer des moyens de subsistance en combinant la conservation du patrimoine, la tradition et l'innovation avec le tourisme agricole durable en tant qu'activité prometteuse pour stimuler le développement rural.

Description (EN):

The Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) are agroecosystems inhabited by communities that live in intricate relationships with their territory. These evolving sites are resilient systems characterised by remarkable agrobiodiversity, traditional knowledge, invaluable cultures, and landscapes that are sustainably managed by farmers, herders, fisherfolk, and forest people in ways that contribute to their livelihoods and food security. The main challenge of the project is to reinforce the role of sustainable tourism in preserving these incredible agricultural sites that face several threats through the transfer of VALSIPAM project strategy that will be adapted, improved, and validated for sustainable agricultural tourism valorisation. In GIAHS sites, tourism requires particular careful management: the livelihoods of Med GIAHS sites population may rely on foreign visitors to diversify their economic activities, but tourism is a pressure factor on these fragile systems. Sustainability is the key. The main project result will be the creation of an innovative tourism-based MED-GIAHS network that will enhance the sustainability of existing, candidate, and future MED-GIAHS. It will help rebuild and redefine tourism in a new and more sustainable way. The project results will be transferable to all the MED-GIAHS sites, mainly the improved sustainable tourism strategy and the network for exchange and support. Expected project results for designated and candidate GIAHS sites in the Med area are joint guide for local action plans, good practices catalogues, and training and information material. This project's transnational approach and the support of FAO would contribute to addressing common problems at all GIAHS sites and achieving the expected results. That is, creating livelihoods in GIAHS sites by combining heritage conservation, tradition and innovation in a unique way with sustainable agricultural tourism as a promising activity to boost rural development.

Actual Achievements (EN):

During the first six months of the MED GIAHS project, the planned activities have been developed with no significant deviations from those initially planned. Specific tasks have been carried out for the start-up, operation, control and monitoring of the project. In addition, others related to the general objective of the project, which is to develop a sustainable tourism model in the GIAHS/candidate territories, and to establish a network of GIAHS sites in the Mediterranean area, have been also developed. The consortium launched the project activities with the Steering Committee meeting held in telematic format in March 2024 where all partners participated. They presented their entities, reasons for participating in the project and main interests and motivations for participating in MED GIAHS. The procedures, responsibilities, administrative and financial operating rules, monitoring, evaluation plans and main aspects that should govern the communication activities were also presented. Another important achievement was the first Inter-regional seminar of the project held in March 2024. The aim was to present, discuss and clarify all aspects related to the project activities, workshops, meetings, seminars and the main expected results and products to be developed during the first semester. Likewise, the technical work teams for each partner were defined. A relevant aspect of this interregional seminar was the presentation of the strategy of the Valsipam project, financed by the SUDOE Interregional Cooperation Programme, which developed a strategy for sustainable tourism in the GIAHS territories of Southwest Europe. The way in which this strategy should be transferred, adapted and improved for the unique agricultural territories participating in the MED GIAHS project was also presented. The second important achievement of the project was also shown and explained: a joint guide for the elaboration of action plans. The partner in charge of the development of the joint training plan for the stakeholders in the different GIAHS territories informed about the objectives of this task and the stakeholder groups to be targeted by this training. The interregional seminar laid the groundwork for the first technical meeting of the project, to be held in May 2024, which would set out the procedures and common tools to address the first phase of the sustainable tourism model to be developed: the tourism analysis of the territories. Finally, the thematic community of sustainable tourism of the Euromed area was presented. The community4tourism project held its kick-off meeting in April 2024 in person in Rome where the lead partner presented MED GIAHS. Other partners also participated in the meeting. During the month of May, the first technical meeting of the project was held in telematic format. This meeting defined the common tools and protocols that all partners should follow to develop the first phase of the new sustainable tourism strategy of MED GIAHS: the analysis of the tourism situation in each GIAHS territory. All partners participated in this meeting, as well as the lead partner of the project community4tourism, who explained the general objectives of the project and how MED GIAHS contributes to the creation of the sustainable tourism community and benefits from the synergies provided by this community. The lead partner presented the criteria and main characteristics of the GIAHS sites and the sustainable tourism strategies within the action plans developed in these unique territories. For its part, the partner Council of the Huerta de Valencia, responsible for the activity, presented the tools, process, and timetable for developing the analysis of the tourism situation in the GIAHS territories. These analyses were carried out in each territory before the end of the first semester of the project, preferably in person in what was known as the 1st Local Workshop, with the participation of all the actors involved in tourism in each GIAHS/candidate territory. All partners have held their workshops. The aspects addressed were as follows: Characterisation of the demand and typology of current customers in the territories, the most relevant tourism resources in each area, tourism experiences that can add significant value to the tourism strategy to be designed and good practices that can be exportable to other territories. With this activity, the MED GIAHS project has completed the technical tasks foreseen during the first semester. Likewise, all partners have contributed to the communication strategy foreseen in the project by elaborating and publishing press releases and reviews in websites and social networks related to the project start-up and the development of the specific activities of each partner. Additionally, the consortium has carried out the planned cost declaration of expenses, including the necessary technical reports. During the first year, the project activities were developed as planned, making progresses in the work towards the achievement of the established objectives, contributing to the creation of a sustainable tourism model in the GIAHS territories and in the establishment of the bases for the consolidation of a network in the Mediterranean area. The following events, key to the development and progress of the project, were held: The consortium started its activities with the first Steering Committee meeting and the 1st Interregional Seminar in March 2024. Both events were held on-line. The 1st Steering Committee focused on the presentation of the partners, discussed administrative and financial aspects, approved the financial and governance rules of the MED-GIAHS project and established criteria for the monitoring and communication of the project. At the 1st Interregional Seminar, the methodological basis of the project was established. At this event, the following aspects were presented: - The VALSIPAM strategy, - Methodology, schedule and work plan for the MED-GHIAS Strategy for sustainable agricultural tourism - The methodology, schedule and work plan for the Joint Guide for defining action plans. - The methodology, schedule and work plan for the Joint Training Plan (JTP). - The methodology, schedule and work plan for the MED-GHIAS sustainable tourism catalogues. In May 2024, the 1st Online Technical Meeting was held with the participation of the technicians designated by each partner. There, the following topics were discussed and instructions were given for the development of the first local workshop: - Criteria and main features of a GIAHS site. Tourism Strategies within action plans - MED GIAHS site sustainable tourism strategy: 1st step and local workplan - MED GIAHS site sustainable tourism catalogues: methodology The Lead Partner of the Community4Tourism (C4T) project also participated in this session, explaining the relationship with the sustainable tourism community. Another on-line meeting was held with this project in November. Another key milestone of this period has been the work done on the adaptation of the VALSIPAM strategy, which has been improved with experiences from other projects. For its adaptation, the 1st Local Workshops were held in the six territories, where the agro-tourism resources were identified with the participation of key actors. In parallel, information was collected through surveys and workshops, consolidating a database for the tourism analysis of the GIAHS sites. Six analyses have been carried out, one for each territory, in the following territories: - Katuns of Bjelasica, Komovi, and Prokletije (Montenegro) - Historical Irrigation System at l'Horta de València (Spain) - Olive Groves of the Slopes between Assisi and Spoleto (Italy) - Bulgarian Rose agroecosystem (Bulgaria) - Gum Mastiha of Chios Island (Greece) - Malaga Raisin Production System in La Axarquía (Spain) Based on these 6 analyses, a joint analysis of good practices was carried out. Subsequently, in October 2024, the 2nd Steering Committee, the 2nd Interregional Seminar and the 1st Study Visit to the GIAHS site of the Huerta de Valencia were organised in Valencia, with the participation of all the partners and key actors. The 2nd Steering Committee addressed the administrative, economic, and communication management of the project, as well as the methodology for calculating the carbon footprint. The activity schedule was reviewed, and adjustments were reported to the EUROMED Programme without affecting the overall timeline. Partners agreed to request the inclusion of a new training-of-trainers activity to ensure the preparation of local experts without altering the budget. The project’s Advisory Board was also established. The 2nd Interregional Seminar served to review progress and present the first drafts of the MED-GIAHS Strategy for Sustainable Agricultural Tourism, the Joint Guide for Action Plans, and the Joint Training Plan. It highlighted the importance of the active involvement of partners in collecting and disseminating communication actions, including both their own initiatives and those of other partners and entities in their territories. The event was attended by FAO-recognized partners from North Africa, other Spanish GIAHS sites, and representatives from partner countries. In communication and dissemination, a working group was created, composed of one representative per partner and coordinated by the project’s communication manager. CAPADR, as communication coordinator, hired a specialized communication company to support the consortium. Key developments in this area, with contributions from all partners, include: the development of the Communication Plan, the design and exhibition of the project poster at official venues, content creation and website updates, production of a project presentation video, and publication of news on both partner and official project websites. During the third implementation period, the MED-GIAHS project made significant progress in consolidating its objectives, both in terms of technical activities and project coordination, in line with the established work plan. The work focused on the preparation of the four strategic documents foreseen as final deliverables of the project. Their status is as follows: The final versions of the Joint Guide for Defining Action Plans (D.2.1.1) and the MED-GIAHS Strategy for Sustainable Agricultural Tourism (D.3.1.1) were produced. Both documents were coordinated by CHdV, the partner responsible for drafting them, with the support of CAPADR and the rest of the partners, and were reviewed and validated by the Advisory Board at the time of this report (September 2025). The final version of the Joint Training Plan/Pedagogical Guide (D.2.2.1) was also completed, drafted by UNIFI-DAGRI with the support of CAPADR and the other partners. The definitive deliverable will include the results of the training actions (Training for Trainers and Training for Stakeholders) and will be presented at the project’s final events, scheduled to take place in the Assisi and Spoleto GIAHS site between 20 and 22 November. Considerable progress was also made on the MED-GIAHS Sustainable Tourism Catalogue (D.3.1.1), led by CAPADR. Within this framework, all local co-creation workshops were held across the project territories, engaging local stakeholders in the design of agrotourism experiences. In the last semester, the experiences to be included in the transnational catalogue will be selected, which will constitute the final deliverable. Progress was also achieved in the establishment of the MED-GIAHS Network, both in terms of content (the four project deliverables) and in the definition of protocols and governance mechanisms. Its launch is scheduled for the final events in November. Regarding specific activities, special mention should be made of the training actions led by UNIFI-DAGRI. As of this report (September 2025), the Training for Trainers sessions have been held in all territories except Montenegro (scheduled for the week of 6–10 October). With respect to the Training for Stakeholders, this activity has been completed by two partners (PP5 UNIFI and PP6 PRA) and is partially implemented in the others, following the planned schedule. In terms of coordination and governance, CAPADR organized the 2nd online Technical Meeting (26/02/2025) and the 3rd Steering Committee Meeting (15/05/2025), also held online. These meetings addressed technical and administrative issues, as well as substantive matters such as the withdrawal of a partner (PP4 CHdV), clarification on State aid, the project modification, and the preparation of the events planned in La Axarquía GIAHS site (Málaga) in September 2025. Quality control, project monitoring and risk management mechanisms were also reinforced. Following the dissolution of partner PP4 CHdV, the project was modified. The modification consisted of a reduction in partnership (withdrawal of one partner) and the redistribution of the remaining budget among the others (except CAPADR, whose budget remained unchanged). This redistribution will allow the implementation of three new communication and dissemination activities: - Participation in the FAO 1st World Fair in Rome (10–13 October 2025). - Production of a promotional video on each partner’s agricultural heritage system. - Acquisition of goodies from some of the agricultural heritage systems involved in the project for exhibition and distribution as giveaways at the FAO Fair. The project’s communication strategy was reinforced not only with these new activities, but also with the launch of social media accounts, the update of the website, and the production of graphic material (roll-up, photocall, posters, brochures). In addition, the second local co-creation workshops and the training activities were widely disseminated, showing high participation and satisfaction levels. Regarding coordination with the Mission’s Governance Projects (TCP & IDP) and the JS, the project participated in the online meetings convened (February), the Second MED Cluster on Climate & Biodiversity (April), and the Dialogue for Tourism (March). Attendance is also planned at the Sustainable Tourism Community Annual Meeting, to be held in Tirana on 1–2 October. Partners remain committed to carbon footprint measurement tasks, progressing in data collection and analysis, while simultaneously promoting actions aimed at its gradual and coordinated reduction. Finally, communication with the JS has been continuous and fluid, enabling correct and safe progress in project activities.

Project outputs: Strategy for sustainable agricultural tourism in MED GIAHS sites(FR)
Strategy for sustainable agricultural tourism in MED GIAHS sites(EN)
MED-GIAHS Network(EN)
MED-GIAHS Network(FR)
MED-GIAHS Network partnership cooperation(FR)
MED-GIAHS Network partnership cooperation(EN)
Website: https://med-giahs.interreg-euro-med.eu/

Thematic information

Tourism Rural and peripheral development Agriculture and fisheries and forestry

Priority: (VI-B_EM_2) Greener MED

Priority specific objective: RSO2.7. Enhancing protection and preservation of nature, biodiversity and green infrastructure, including in urban areas, and reducing all forms of pollution

Priority policy objective (Interreg specific objective): PO2 A greener, low-carbon transitioning towards a net zero carbon economy and resilient Europe by promoting clean and fair energy transition, green and blue investment, the circular economy, climate change mitigation and adaptation, risk prevention and management, and sustainable urban mobility

Type of intervention: 079 Nature and biodiversity protection, natural heritage and resources, green and blue infrastructure

Partners (7)

Lead Partner: Consejería de Agricultura, Pesca, Agua y Desarrollo Rural de la Junta de Andalucía

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 920952048

Partner’s ID if not PIC: S4111001F | ES204000016 | - (FR), - (EN)

Department: Vice Ministry

Address: C/ Tabladilla, 41013 Seville, Spain

Department address: C/ Tabladilla, 41013 Sevilla, Spain

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Regional public authority

Website: https://www.juntadeandalucia.es/organismos/agriculturapescaaguaydesarrollorural.html

Total budget: EUR 210 753.30

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 168 602.64

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 42 150.66

GBER schemes / de minimis: GBER Article 20a

Contractors:

Name: MARTA VINCUERIA BERDEJO
VAT registration or tax identification number: 28920085T.
Name: INTEGRACIÓN AGENCIA DE VIAJES
VAT registration or tax identification number: A-84523505
Name: CONSEJO REGULADOR DDOO MALAGA
VAT registration or tax identification number: Q7955051C
Name: ASOC. “EL PASERO”
VAT registration or tax identification number: G93410785
Name: RAMOS Y SERRANO CONSULTORÍA SL
VAT registration or tax identification number: B56056864
Name: ADRIANO VIAJES, S.A.
VAT registration or tax identification number: A41718073
Name: Descubre Comunicación S.L.
VAT registration or tax identification number: B90115395

Αριστοτέλειο Πανεπιστήμιο Θεσσαλονίκης – Ειδικός Λογαριασμός Κονδυλίων Έρευνας

Name: Αριστοτέλειο Πανεπιστήμιο Θεσσαλονίκης – Ειδικός Λογαριασμός Κονδυλίων Έρευνας

Department: Laboratory of Floriculture

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 999895692

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 090049627 | EL120000024 | - (FR), - (EN)

Address: Aristotle University Campus, K.E.D.E.A. Building,, 54636 Thessaloniki, Greece

Department address: Aristotle University Campus, K.E.D.E.A. Building,, 54636 Thessaloniki, Greece

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Education/training centre and school

Website: https://www.auth.gr/en

Total budget: EUR 136 580.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 109 264.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 27 316.00

GBER schemes / de minimis: GBER Article 20a

Contractors:

Name: Panagos G. Stefanos
VAT registration or tax identification number: EL111244039
Name: AEROGRAMMI IKE
VAT registration or tax identification number: EL082368780

Областна Администрация Пазарджик

Name: Областна Администрация Пазарджик

Department: Regional development

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 999782978

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 112121473 | BG120000008 | - (FR), - (EN)

Address: Ekzarh Yosif, 4400 Pazardzhik, Bulgaria

Department address: Ekzarh Yosif, 4400 Pazardzhik, Bulgaria

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Regional public authority

Website: http://www.pz.government.bg

Total budget: EUR 140 360.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 112 288.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 28 072.00

GBER schemes / de minimis: GBER Article 20a

Contractors:

Name: Georgi Georgiev
VAT registration or tax identification number: 6203074622
Name: Nikola Manevski
VAT registration or tax identification number: 8212014403
Name: Perar Stoyanov
VAT registration or tax identification number: 8008056660

Università degli Studi di Firenze - Dipartimento di Architettura

Name: Università degli Studi di Firenze - Dipartimento di Architettura

Department: Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Agrarie, Alimentari, Ambientali e Forestali / Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Forestry Science and Technology.

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 999895789

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 01279680480 | IT120000030 | - (FR), - (EN)

Address: PIAZZA SAN MARCO, 50121 Florence, Italy

Department address: PIAZZA SAN MARCO, 50121 Florence, Italy

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: http://www.unifi.it

Total budget: EUR 210 100.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 168 080.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 42 020.00

GBER schemes / de minimis: GBER Article 20a

Contractors:

Name: Massimo Lucii
VAT registration or tax identification number: IT00841450117
Name: Francesca Puliti
VAT registration or tax identification number: IT06152820483
Name: HORIZONS SRL
VAT registration or tax identification number: 02198150514
Name: BAZZURRO ALESSANDRA
VAT registration or tax identification number: IT03935450548
Name: LEGNAIOLI GUIDO
VAT registration or tax identification number: IT06598250485
Name: BAR BEDDINI SRL
VAT registration or tax identification number: 03850680541
Name: BARONI AUTONOLEGGI SNC
VAT registration or tax identification number: 02513510541
Name: CONGRESS TECNO SERVICE SRL
VAT registration or tax identification number: 03206220547
Name: FAI - FONDO AMBIENTE ITALIANO
VAT registration or tax identification number: 04358650150
Name: TAVERNA DEL SETTE SRL
VAT registration or tax identification number: 02994110548
Name: AZ. AGR. ZAPPELLI CARDARELLI
VAT registration or tax identification number: 02261860544

Regionalna razvojna agencija za Bjelasicu, Komove i Prokletije

Name: Regionalna razvojna agencija za Bjelasicu, Komove i Prokletije

Department: NA

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 950647919

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 02769158 | ME220000002 | - (FR), - (EN)

Address: IV crnogorske brigade, 84300 Berane, Montenegro

Department address: IV crnogorske brigade, 84300 Berane, Montenegro

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Sectoral agency

Website: http://www.bjelasica-komovi.me

Total budget: EUR 130 069.50

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 104 055.60

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 26 013.90

GBER schemes / de minimis: GBER Article 20a

Contractors:

Name: Solutions4you
VAT registration or tax identification number: 03105261

Consorci Consell de l'Horta de València

Name: Consorci Consell de l'Horta de València

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 886915621

Partner’s ID if not PIC: S4600328A | ES1S0000029 | - (FR), - (EN)

Address: Camí Alqueria del Moros, 46025 Valencia, Spain

Department address: Camí Alqueria del Moros, 46025 Valencia, Spain

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Regional public authority

Total budget: EUR 156 477.14

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 125 181.71

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 31 295.43

GBER schemes / de minimis: GBER Article 20a

Contractors:

Name: Consell de l'Horta
VAT registration or tax identification number: S4600328A
Name: INTERPRETA NATURA
VAT registration or tax identification number: ESG98849169
Name: 2piNET Proyectos SL
VAT registration or tax identification number: B16798357
Name: Atlas Auditoría y Consultoría
VAT registration or tax identification number: B01596337
Name: Fundación Andanatura
VAT registration or tax identification number: G41681248

Πανελλήνιος Σύλλογος Αρχιτεκτόνων Τοπίου ΠΣΑΤ

Name: Πανελλήνιος Σύλλογος Αρχιτεκτόνων Τοπίου ΠΣΑΤ

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 900973831

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 998648218 | NA | NA (EN), NA (FR)

Address: Dimitriou Psatha, 15127 Athens, Greece

Department address: Dimitriou Psatha, 15127 Athens, Greece

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Sectoral agency

Website: http://www.phala.gr

Partners map

Partners and Projects info

Aristotle University of Thessaloniki - Department of Civil Engineering

Mediterranean GIAHS sites network to promote sustainable agricultural tourism

Partners and Projects info

Pazardzhik Regional Administration

Mediterranean GIAHS sites network to promote sustainable agricultural tourism

Partners and Projects info

University of Florence - DIDA - Department of Architecture

Mediterranean GIAHS sites network to promote sustainable agricultural tourism

Partners and Projects info

Regional Development Agency for Bjelasica, Komovi and Prokletije

Mediterranean GIAHS sites network to promote sustainable agricultural tourism

Partners and Projects info

Andalucia Region - Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development

Mediterranean GIAHS sites network to promote sustainable agricultural tourism

Partners and Projects info

Council of the Orchard of Valencia

Mediterranean GIAHS sites network to promote sustainable agricultural tourism

Partners and Projects info

Panhellenic Association of Landscape Architects - PHALA

Mediterranean GIAHS sites network to promote sustainable agricultural tourism

Lead partner

Project partner

Summary

Project name (FR): Réseau méditerranéen de sites SIPAM pour promouvoir un tourisme agricole durable

Project name (EN): Mediterranean GIAHS sites network to promote sustainable agricultural tourism

Project acronym: MED-GIAHS

Project ID: Euro-MED0200584

Project start date: 2024-01-01

Project end date: 2026-03-31

Project status: closed

Relevant linked projects:

Interreg SUDOE (2020-2023). VALSIPAM (FR), Interreg SUDOE (2020-2023). VALSIPAM (EN) | Interreg SUDOE VALSIPAM project. Its methodologies and strategy are the heart of the transfer we propose and therefore fully synergic with ours. Two of the VALSIPAM partners, the coordinator (CAPADR) and CHdV will be the transfer partners in MED-GIAHS. Moreover, in this project, the coordinator is the same: the Andalusía Ministry of Agriculture (CAPADR)
The ultimate goal of our project, the creation of a network of GIAHS sites will be the result of the adaptation and improvement of the VALSIPAM strategy validated through the definition of a joint guide for defining action plans and for VALSIPAM it means its culmination: its tools and strategy, now improved and reinforced by new good practices and tools, will serve to create the first network of agricultural and touristically sustainable GIAHS territories.
All the projects detailed below, with which synergies will be established, fulfil the objective of serving as instruments and good practices to create the MED-GIAHS strategy based on the improvement of the VALSIPAM strategy, optimising and reinforcing it.
(EN), Interreg SUDOE VALSIPAM project. Its methodologies and strategy are the heart of the transfer we propose and therefore fully synergic with ours. Two of the VALSIPAM partners, the coordinator (CAPADR) and CHdV will be the transfer partners in MED-GIAHS. Moreover, in this project, the coordinator is the same: the Andalusía Ministry of Agriculture (CAPADR)
The ultimate goal of our project, the creation of a network of GIAHS sites will be the result of the adaptation and improvement of the VALSIPAM strategy validated through the definition of a joint guide for defining action plans and for VALSIPAM it means its culmination: its tools and strategy, now improved and reinforced by new good practices and tools, will serve to create the first network of agricultural and touristically sustainable GIAHS territories.
All the projects detailed below, with which synergies will be established, fulfil the objective of serving as instruments and good practices to create the MED-GIAHS strategy based on the improvement of the VALSIPAM strategy, optimising and reinforcing it.
(FR), Cofund ERA-NETs SUSFOOD2 and FOSC. (2022-2024). MedAgriFood Resilience Project (FR), Cofund ERA-NETs SUSFOOD2 and FOSC. (2022-2024). MedAgriFood Resilience Project (EN) | This project is focused on studying three GIAHS sites (in Italy, Morocco and Algeria) applying a multidisciplinary approach to identify the possible social and environmental shocks impacting agroforestry and agri-food heritage systems in the Mediterranean area, linking together landscape structure, climatological studies, social role and biodiversity assessment. Over the centuries, local communities have adapted to challenging environmental conditions such as a dry and hot climate, water scarcity and steep slopes. The results of the project will lead to the identification of the best practices to be replicated in other traditional agroforestry and agri-food systems to increase the adaptation and resilience to social and/or environmental systems shocks.
One of the main outputs of the project will be the creation of an informal network of GIAHS sites in the Mediterranean area (MED-GIAHS Network). It is a scientific-oriented network promoted by the University of Florence (now a MED-GIAHS partner) and two North African universities from Morocco and Algeria (now also MED-GIAHS associates). This could be the embryo of the main objective of our project, which is to create a network of GIAHS in the MED area through a common strategy to promote sustainable agricultural tourism in MED- GIAHS sites. (EN), This project is focused on studying three GIAHS sites (in Italy, Morocco and Algeria) applying a multidisciplinary approach to identify the possible social and environmental shocks impacting agroforestry and agri-food heritage systems in the Mediterranean area, linking together landscape structure, climatological studies, social role and biodiversity assessment. Over the centuries, local communities have adapted to challenging environmental conditions such as a dry and hot climate, water scarcity and steep slopes. The results of the project will lead to the identification of the best practices to be replicated in other traditional agroforestry and agri-food systems to increase the adaptation and resilience to social and/or environmental systems shocks.
One of the main outputs of the project will be the creation of an informal network of GIAHS sites in the Mediterranean area (MedGIAHS Network). It is a scientific-oriented network promoted by the University of Florence (now a MED-GIAHS partner) and two North African universities from Morocco and Algeria (now also MED-GIAHS associates). This could be the embryo of the main objective of our project, which is to create a network of GIAHS in the MED area through a common strategy to promote sustainable agricultural tourism in MED GIAHS sites. (FR), Interreg MED. 2019. CASTWATER Project (FR), Interreg MED. 2019. CASTWATER Project (EN) | This project has generated 2 online tools that assess water management. One of them is addressed to SMEs (GIAHS managers) and the other one to public authorities (MED-GIAHS partners).
We believe that both tools will be interesting for some regional action plans based on the GIAHS transnational strategy for the management and valorisation of sustainable tourism.
In this case and due to the importance of the water issue in the GIAHS of the MED territory, a partner of this project has been invited as a partner: Valencia Tourism. (FR), This project has generated 2 online tools that assess water management. One of them is addressed to SMEs (GIAHS managers) and the other one to public authorities (MED-GIAHS partners).
We believe that both tools will be interesting for the elaboration of the joint guide for defining action plans based on the GIAHS transnational strategy for the management and valorisation of sustainable tourism.
In this case and due to the importance of the water issue in the GIAHS of the MED territory, a partner of this project has been invited as a partner: Valencia Tourism. (EN), Interreg MED. 2019-2023. Sustainable Tourism Community Project (EN), Interreg MED. 2019-2023. Sustainable Tourism Community Project (FR) | This Community MED project (still active) is the reference in terms of policy recommendations for an entire Interreg period. It brings together the work of over 10 thematic Interreg MED projects focusing on sustainable tourism. It will therefore be our initial guide for our MED-GIAHS strategy.
This project will give MED-GIAHS an initial vision of how policies should be developed to achieve sustainable tourism that preserves nature and culture.
Moreover, in this case the project coordinator has been the Diputació’ de Barcelona (Spain) so that synergies will be established directly between the coordinators of the two projects. (FR), This Community MED project (still active) is the reference in terms of policy recommendations for an entire Interreg period. It brings together the work of over 10 thematic Interreg MED projects focusing on sustainable tourism. It will therefore be our initial guide for our MED-GIAHS strategy.
This project will give MED-GIAHS an initial vision of how policies should be developed to achieve sustainable tourism that preserves nature and culture.
Moreover, in this case the project coordinator has been the Diputació’ de Barcelona (Spain) so that synergies will be established directly between the coordinators of the two projects. (EN), Interreg MED. 2019. DESTMED Project (EN), Interreg MED. 2019. DESTMED Project (FR) | This thematic project has generated an online tool that calculates the carrying capacity of a tourist destination. This tool will be part of the complementary annexes of the Strategy to be transferred to MED-GIAHS.
It is a reality that the GIAHS do not currently have a problem of tourist overcrowding, but it is also a reality that they are very fragile systems in terms of human intervention. This, together with the simplicity and effectiveness of this tool, makes it an important complement to the transfer.
In addition, the city of Malaga and a Valencian Institute are partners in this project, which are the regions where the GIAHS transferring partners of MED-GIAHS are located.
(FR), This thematic project has generated an online tool that calculates the carrying capacity of a tourist destination. This tool will be part of the complementary annexes of the Strategy to be transferred to MED-GIAHS.
It is a reality that the GIAHS do not currently have a problem of tourist overcrowding, but it is also a reality that they are very fragile systems in terms of human intervention. This, together with the simplicity and effectiveness of this tool, makes it an important complement to the transfer.
In addition, the city of Malaga and a Valencian Institute are partners in this project, which are the regions where the GIAHS transferring partners of MED-GIAHS are located. (EN), Interreg ADRION. 2022. QNeST Plus Project (FR), Interreg ADRION. 2022. QNeST Plus Project (EN) | This project is also being developed in the countries of some of our partners, so their dialogue will be direct.
From the results obtained in QNeST Plus we want to take advantage of the methodology used to design the tourist routes in our project. They have designed routes on primary products and water which are themes present in the GIAHS and a tourist product to be developed on them.
(EN), This project is also being developed in the countries of some of our partners, so their dialogue will be direct.
From the results obtained in QNeST Plus we want to take advantage of the methodology used to design the tourist routes in our project. They have designed routes on primary products and water which are themes present in the GIAHS and a tourist product to be developed on them. (FR), ENI CBC MED (2019 - 2023). MED PEARLS Project (FR), ENI CBC MED (2019 - 2023). MED PEARLS Project (EN) | This project, still in progress, offers a very interesting concept for the GIAHS territories: Slow Tourism. Its main feature is to connect local communities with tourists. It will also create 26 new products in this line.
From MED-GIAHS we are going to make networking with them to know in more detail the concept of Slow Tourism and the new tourist products created, to evaluate the incorporation in our catalogue of good practices. (EN), This project, still in progress, offers a very interesting concept for the GIAHS territories: Slow Tourism. Its main feature is to connect local communities with tourists. It will also create 26 new products in this line.
From MED-GIAHS we are going to make networking with them to know in more detail the concept of Slow Tourism and the new tourist products created, to evaluate the incorporation in our catalogue of good practices. (FR), Interreg ALPINE Space. 2019. AlpFoodway Project (EN), Interreg ALPINE Space. 2019. AlpFoodway Project (FR) | AlpFoodway has based the development of its activities on the appreciation of the local food of its territory. On this basis, it has created new tools for transferring agricultural knowledge to future generations and new marketing tools based on local food.
As the GIAHS of our project are agricultural areas with traditional food and a deep-rooted food culture, we believe that knowing the tools created by AlpFoodway can bring us an interesting added value in our strategy. (FR), AlpFoodway has based the development of its activities on the appreciation of the local food of its territory. On this basis, it has created new tools for transferring agricultural knowledge to future generations and new marketing tools based on local food.
As the GIAHS of our project are agricultural areas with traditional food and a deep-rooted food culture, we believe that knowing the tools created by AlpFoodway can bring us an interesting added value in our strategy. (EN), GIAHS Capacity Building project (EN), GIAHS Capacity Building project (FR) | This is an ongoing project funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS).
It aims to promote the knowledge of agricultural heritage systems and traditional landscapes, supporting the FAO GIAHS program especially in the AICS Countries, through training and research activities, including the establishment of a first level master course in Agricultural Heritage Systems.
Some of this project results could be used in the development of training materials in WP2. (FR), This is an ongoing project funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS).
It aims to promote the knowledge of agricultural heritage systems and traditional landscapes, supporting the FAO GIAHS program especially in the AICS Countries, through training and research activities, including the establishment of a first level master course in Agricultural Heritage Systems.
Some of this project results could be used in the development of training materials in WP2. (EN)

Total budget/expenditure: EUR 984 339.94

Total EU funding (amount): EUR 787 471.95

Total EU funding (co-financing rate): 80.00%

Co-financing sources:

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

(bullets are inserted automatically and may be incorrectly placed)

Deliverables:

Joint Guide for defining action plans
Joint Guide for defining action plans
Joint Training Plan
Joint Training Plan
Strategy for sustanaible agricultural tourism in Med GIAHS sites
Strategy for sustanaible agricultural tourism in Med GIAHS sites
Joint catalogue of Med GIAHS sustainable agricultural tourism.
Joint catalogue of Med GIAHS sustainable agricultural tourism.
MED-GIAHS Network
MED-GIAHS Network

Contribution to wider strategies and policies:

EUStrategyAdriaticIonianRegion In the MED-GIAHS partnership, there are 3 partners from this Macroregion (Italy, Montenegro, and Greece). The EUSAIR action plan-pillar IV: "sustainable tourism" defines 8 key topics/actions. We outline those with direct synergies with our project:
- Measuring and monitoring sustainable tourism. “Capitalizing the successful experience of some ETIS3 destinations, in order to share the good practices for measuring the impact and collecting data on sustainable tourism and to expand the number of ETIS destinations”. The environmental and social assessment of our strategy is a simple good practice that is adaptable, at least complementary, to monitor and measure the impact of sustainable tourism.
- Skills and vocational training: “Developing multilingual training courses and establishing a Master's program on tourism management, hospitality, and services, sharing the same methodologies and approaches”. In this aspect the synergies are evident: the set of activities of WP2 aim at developing pedagogical guides as a basis for training actions with the actors of the sustainable tourism value chain, thus increasing the present and future capacities of the whole agrarian tourism value chain.
- Cultural tourism and local identity: “Establishment of networks based on thematic tourism already existing in the countries”. Again, the synergies with this topic are direct. Our main objective is the creation of a network of GIAHS sustainable tourism territories open to other territories that are thematically committed to the tourism valorisation of emblematic territories from a food/agrarian point of view. Networking with other thematic networks, and sharing experiences and good practices is one of the central objectives of our network.
EuropeanGreenDeal The link between healthy people, healthy societies and a healthy planet places sustainable food systems, whose ultimate expression is the GIAHS territories, at the heart of the European Green Pact, the EU's strategy for sustainable and inclusive growth, which aims to boost the economy, improve people's health, quality of life, and care for nature.
The transfer and improvement of the VALSIPAM tourism valorisation strategy will accelerate the transition to a sustainable food system that will bring assessed environmental and social benefits. This way, we will offer the opportunity for farmers and tourism operators to make new incomes compensating for the price crisis of agricultural products caused by globalisation and the increase in input prices due to the war in Ukraine, while at the same time will be able to reduce the negative impacts of agriculture on ecosystem services.
In fact, our project is based on a win-win strategy, a partnership between tourism and agriculture, which boosts positive agricultural ecosystem services and biodiversity while strengthening food security, reducing the environmental footprint and making the GIAHS stronger by providing additional income to farmers via tourism.
EUStrategyAlpineRegion MED-GIAHS will contribute to objective 3 of this strategy: Ensure sustainability in the Alps: preserve Alpine heritage and promote sustainable use of natural and cultural resources and specifically to Action Group 6: To preserve and valorise natural resources, including water and cultural resources. Subtopic 2: Future-oriented farming and forestry". This sub-topic aims at establishing a knowledge network to collect, develop and foster existing - and possibly initiate new - innovative and successful initiatives and activities for the promotion and marketing of food and forest products, especially in urban areas, which are sustainably produced and processed in the EUSALP mountain and rural areas to maintain cultural and ecosystem services.
Interaction and synergies with this strategy will be important, especially in:
- the design of the cooperative strategy to strengthen the connection between sustainable tourism, food production, environmental protection, and public health.
- Taking into account good practices from the Alpine region in agro-tourism and food promotion initiatives adaptable to present and future GIAHS territories.
TerritorialAgenda2030 MED-GIAHS contributes to the following SDGs.
No Poverty. MED-GIAHS enables a framework that encourages the development of tourism products and services tailored to lower-income customers, to ensure that everyone can become a tourist while promoting the training and employability of local community members, including those living in poverty, and integrating them into the tourism value chain (as producers, suppliers, or sellers).
Zero Hunger. MED-GIAHS aims to demonstrate the viability of small-scale agriculture, sustaining producer communities with income from sustainable tourism by cutting agricultural price distortions while promoting resilient agriculture with an increasing positive impact on ecosystem services.
Quality education. MED-GIAHS will create a free training framework tailored to farmers and the whole tourism value chain that will demonstrate employment opportunities in the agrarian tourism sector, promoting free and equal training opportunities.
Clean Water. MED-GIAHS is aware of the role of agriculture and tourism as major water consumers. In a climatically hostile environment, with increasing episodes of drought, the preservation of water resources will be one of the pillars of the sustainable strategy that will govern the network of GIAHS territories.
Life on Land. MED-GIAHS will contribute to measuring, managing, and mitigating impacts on ecosystem services, promoting and scaling up best practices in land use planning and management.
Partnerships for the Goals. MED-GIAHS will foster regional and international cooperation and knowledge sharing with FAO and UNWTO in order to encourage more territories with high agri-food and sustainable tourism values to join the GIAHS network through continuous networking with both institutions.
Other Biodiversity Strategy EU 2030
This European strategy will be one of the main guidelines for the creation of the network of GIAHS territories that we propose. Below are some of the most important priorities of the Biodiversity Strategy EU 2030, which are also references and expected outcomes of MED-GIAHS:
- Working with farmers to support and incentivise the transition to fully sustainable practices. MED-GIAHS: the territories where sustainable tourism will be promoted are agricultural territories and working with farmers, as managers of these territories, is our focus for the development of the action plans.
- 25% of EU agricultural land should be dedicated to organic farming by 2030. MED-GIAHS: Some of the agricultural areas integrated in the GIAHS network are already practising organic farming, but this project also aims to encourage the conversion of the remaining areas. Sustainable and healthy tourism is inconceivable if the destinations are not sustainable and healthy. The underlying message of all project activities will be the conversion to organic farming.
- Building a truly coherent Trans-European Network of Wilderness Areas. As developed throughout the proposal, one of the objectives and results of the project will be the creation and maintenance of a GIAHS network in the MED territory. This network will, of course, be integrated into the existing global network. This network will continue to function in parallel after the end of the project and will also incorporate other GIAHS that will be set up in the MED area (WP1) reinforcing by this way that Trans-European Network.
- Improving knowledge, education and skills. Our main objective is to transfer knowledge and enable local actors to use it. The knowledge transferred is closely linked to the concept of sustainability and is addressed to all local stakeholders: farmers, tour operators, politicians, tourists and society in general. In a specific way, we dedicated WP2 to reinforce this aspect.
Other EU strategy for Sustainable Tourism (P9 TA(2021)0109)
We should emphasise two essential points of this strategy that are synergistic with our MED-GIAHS project:
- It points out that the production processes and the wide range of services of general interest offered by agriculture, as well as the diversity of certain activities and facilities, turn farms into places of discovery and experiences, where people of all ages can discover rural landscapes and the cultural and natural heritage safeguarded by rural communities. Tourists will be able to experience farming firsthand and better understand the responsibilities inherent in dealing with animals and natural resources; underlines in this respect the synergies between rural tourism, environmental protection, biodiversity conservation, and animal welfare awareness.
- Underlines, as our project aims to do, the growing trend towards local and authentic travel experiences, which can contribute significantly to reducing the distance travelled by each person and to reducing climate impact, improving environmental tourism management by relieving pressure from overcrowded tourist destinations. Considers farm holidays to be the most sustainable and efficient form of rural tourism in Europe, as they contribute to supporting local businesses and promoting agricultural and natural areas; recommends that Member States ensure that the diversification of rural tourism is optimised, seasonality is reduced, and the quality of tourism is increased.

Programme Common Output Indicator:

RCO 116 - Jointly developed solutions, Measurement unit:
RCO 083 - Strategies and action plans jointly developed, Measurement unit:
RCO 087 - Organisations cooperating across borders, Measurement unit:

Programme Common Result Indicator:

RCR 104 - Solutions taken up or up-scaled by organisations, Measurement unit:
RCR 079 - Joint strategies and action plans taken up by organisations, Measurement unit:

Programme Result Indicator:

PSI1 - Organisations with increased institutional capacity due to their participation in cooperation activities across borders, Measurement unit: organisations

Project part of European Union Macro-Regional or Sea Basin Strategy: EUSALP

EUSALP Priority (Policy) area / Horizontal action:

EUSALP Degree of compliance:

Project part of European Union Macro-Regional or Sea Basin Strategy: EUSAIR

EUSAIR Priority (Policy) area / Horizontal action:

EUSAIR Degree of compliance:

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

Financing programme

2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-B EURO Mediterranean (EURO MED)

Latest month of project-partner-call data publication

2026-06

No. of projects in keep.eu / Total no. of projects (% of projects in keep.eu)

96 / 96 (100%)

No. of project partnerships in keep.eu / Total no. of project partnerships (% of project partnerships in keep.eu)

900 / 900 (100%)

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Mediterranean GIAHS sites network to promote sustainable agricultural tourism

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Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

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