ABSTRACT
Agricultural heritage systems are constructions of many generations of farmers applying their indigenous knowledge and technology, resulting in the creation of unique landscapes and livelihood systems characterized by richness in biodiversity, cultural values and resiliency embedding outstanding settlements, land tenure and
land use systems and social organization. The term agricultural systems is seen in its broad sense, including forestry, fishery and aquaculture, herding and grazing systems and, particularly, integrated systems. The term system covers social, cultural and institutional aspects as well as biophysical, agronomic and management aspects. The system needs to be considered at a variety of spatial and temporal scales to reflect the complex management of resources by different members of the farming community, from an individual parcel or field to communal resources to landscapes and from one growing season to a several-year rotation.
