“Landscapes of water, source of life” Communities and Traditional water management systems 12-13 July 2013, Vitoria-Gasteiz. Álava. País Vasco. España www.vallesalado.com The ancient traditions that survive in Valle Salado, the judicious management that has survived for centuries and the social structures that emerged and that have developed, make it a perfect example of a sustainable landscape that should serve as a driving force for future local development. Fundación Valle Salado would like to encourage, at this International Conference, a discussion on different aspects related to Water Landscapes and to traditional Water management systems that are vital to communities. We would also like to share our experience with other systems that are based on the existence, whether abundant or scarce, of water, thereby achieving an international component through the desire to establish bonds of cooperation and collaboration. Water for Life will be, during this Conference, the key element of communities that base their lifestyles on understanding its management, not only to ensure their food but also the survival of their knowledge, their traditions, their culture, in short, their identity.

1. International Conference
“Landscapes of water, source of life”
Communities and Traditional water management systems
12-13 July 2013, Vitoria-Gasteiz. Álava. País Vasco. España
www.vallesalado.com

2. On occasion of the candidacy of the Cultural Landscape of Valle Salado de Añana (Álava,
Basque Country) to become a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2014 and a Globally Important
Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS), the Valle Salado de Añana Foundation is paying tribute
to water, thanks to which its singular way of life, culture and landscape originated.
For Valle Salado de Añana (Añana Salt Valley), water is its source of life and, therefore, we
would like to contribute to the events that have been taking place to mark the 2005-2015
Decade, declared by UNESCO as the “Water for Life” Decade.
The Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems project (GIAHS) originated in
2002 within the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organisation, FAO, in order to safeguard
and support unique, traditional and ingenious agricultural systems on every continent.
The programme promotes international understanding and appreciation of these systems and
their landscapes that have been created, shaped, maintained and inherited by generations of
farmers, herders, fishermen and other populations. They still use locally adapted management
practices and techniques that are often highly ingenious and that have contributed and conti-
nue to contribute to the natural and cultural heritage of the world.
The initiative promotes an integrated approach that combines local development and sustai-
nable use in unique places and landscapes and by singular cultures and peoples where water
plays a key role, displaying the wealth of human inventiveness and adaptability to the most
diverse circumstances.
Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems include a wide range of landscapes, such as
the Masai Pastoralist Heritage System (Kenya and Tanzania), the Gafsa Oases (Tunisia), Chiloé
Agriculture (Chile), the Andean Agriculture Systems (Peru), the Ifugao Rice Terraces (Philippi-
nes) or the Aohan Dryland Farming System (China).
Valle Salado de Añana also aspires to become a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Sys-
tem. Only 25 landscapes in the world have been declared GIAHS, most of them in Asia, Africa
and Latin America. There are still none in Europe.
Moreover, UNESCO announced the “Water for Life” Decade between 2005 and 2015 to
promote a new culture of water. The great challenge focuses on directing attention towards
proactive policies and activities to ensure the long-term sustainable management of water
resources, in terms of both quality and quantity.
This Decade is part of the Millennium Development Goals, agreed at the Millennium Summit
in 2000, which establish, in relation to water, halving the percentage of people without access
reducir a la mitad el porcentaje de personas sin acceso al agua potable y poner fin a la exh

3. to safe drinking water and stopping the unsustainable exploitation of water resources,
urging nations to develop integrated plans for the efficient management and use of
water resources.
Within this framework, Fundación Valle Salado (Valle Salado Foundation) has arranged
a number of meetings and seminars on various topics related to its particular nature.
Among these, we can highlight water as the raison d’etre for its existence. Water has
not only established the physical characteristics of Valle Salado, but also of all those that
distinguish it as a cultural landscape of far-reaching heritage, cultural, economic, food,
social.... interest.
The ancient traditions that survive in Valle Salado, the judicious management that has
survived for centuries and the social structures that emerged and that have developed,
make it a perfect example of a sustainable landscape that should serve as a driving force
for future local development.
Fundación Valle Salado would like to encourage, at this International Conference, a
discussion on different aspects related to Water Landscapes and to traditional Water
management systems that are vital to communities. We would also like to share our
experience with other systems that are based on the existence, whether abundant or
scarce, of water, thereby achieving an international component through the desire to
establish bonds of cooperation and collaboration.
Water for Life will be, during this Conference, the key element of communities that base
their lifestyles on understanding its management, not only to ensure their food but also
the survival of their knowledge, their traditions, their culture, in short, their identity.
Support cooperation between the managers of unique water systems•
Promote discussions among experts on the cultural and natural values of water lands-•
capes
Raise awareness on this type of heritage•
Share experiences as a basis for future models applied to water management sys-•
tems
Promote awareness about Globally Important Agricultural•
Heritage Systems (GIAHS)•
Disseminate knowledge on Valle Salado de Añana•
Objectives of the conference

4. 1. Water and biodiversity
This session will present several examples that demonstrate the direct relationship between the intelligent use of water and
the maintenance of biodiversity and natural resources. There will also be discussions on some key risks and threats, such
as pollution or overexploitation.
2. Water and food
This session includes examples of water systems from different world regions directly linked to food production for hu-
mans.
The programme has been structured into four sessions
3. Water and culture
This session deals with peoples and communities who use and inhabit these water landscapes and, therefore, includes
experiences related to tangible and intangible cultural heritage.
4. Water and landscape
Water, whether due to its abundance or shortage, has determined the creation of a multitude of landscapes and has be-
come an essential component of the terrain. The landscape perspective enables us to integrate, in a holistic way, different
perspectives that shape the perception and management of these landscapes.

5. Detailed programme
Day 1 – July 12
09:00 - 09:30 Welcome participants
09:30 - 10:00 Opening by the authorities
10:00 - 10:45 Opening conference: Josefina Maestu, Director at United Nations Office to support of the Interna-
tional Decade for Action ‘Water for Life’ 2005-2015 that implements the UN Programme - Water
for Promotion and Communication within the framework of the Decade
10,45 - 11,00 Coffee break
Session 1. Water and biodiversity
Session 4. Water and landscape
11:00 - 11:30 Introduction and coordination of the session: Alberto Hernández. Assistant to the “Man and Biosphere
Programme” (MAB), UNESCO
11:30 - 12:00 Goran Gugic. Managing Director of Lonkjsko Polje Nature Park. RAMSAR site. Croatia.
12:00 - 12:30 Maher Mahoub. International Union for the Conservation of Nature - Mediterranean Cooperation
Centre (UICN) – Coordinator of the North Africa Programme
12:30 - 13:00 Dave Pritchrad. Coordinator of the RAMSAR Culture Working Group “Convention on Wetlands”
13:00 - 13:30 Panel discussion and conclusions
Session 2. Water and food
15:00 - 15:30 Introduction & coordination of the session. Parviz Koohafkan. President of the World Foundation of
Agricultural Heritage and Coordinator of the GIAHS Association
15:30 - 16:00 Alejandro Argumedo. Assistant Director of the ANDES Association. Representative of Andean agriculture,
Peru
16:00 - 16:30 Deyin Luo. Professor, School of Architecture, Tsinghua University, Beijing. UNESCO World Heritage
candidacy for the Honghe Hani rice terraces, China.
16:30 - 16:45 Panel discussion and conclusions
16:45 - 17:00 Coffee break
Session 3. Water and culture
17:00- 17:30 Introduction & coordination. Stefano de Caro. Director General of the International Centre for
the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM)
17:30 - 18:00 Semsar Yazdi. Director of the International Centre of Qanats and Historic Water Structures, Iran. UNESCO
World heritage
18:00 - 18:30 Luis Pablo Martínez. Candidacy of “Consejo de Hombres Buenos de la Huerta de Murcia y
Tribunal de Aguas de la Vega de Valencia. Intangible Cultural Heritage of UNESCO
18:30 - 19:00 Pietro Laureano. Chairman of International Traditional Knowledge Institute (ITKI)
19:00 - 19:30 Panel discussion and conclusions
20:00 - 21:00 Visit to the Cathedral of Santa María in Vitoria-Gasteiz

7. Day 2 – July 13
Session 4. Water and landscape
09:30 - 10:00 Introduction and coordination of the session. Begoña Bernal. Deputy Secretary General
of the Spanish National Committee of the International Council on Monuments and Sites
(ICOMOS)
10:00 - 10:30 Bartolomé Deyá. Managing Director of Serra de Tramuntana, Spain.
UNESCO World heritage
10:30 - 11:00 Eriberto Eulisse. Director of the International Centre of Water Civilization, Scorze. Italy
11:00 - 11:30 Roberto López de Eguílaz. The Cultural Landscape of Valle Salado de Añana. Spain
11:30 - 12:00 Panel discussion
12:00 - 12:30 Conclusions and closing statement.
Carol Westrik. International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS)
Mónica Luengo. President of the International Scientific Committee of Cultu-
ral Landscapes ICOMOS-IFLA
12:30 - 12:45 Closing ceremony
Session 5. Practical session. Valle Salado de Añana
16:30 - 17:00 Transfer to Salinas de Añana
17:00 - 19:30 Technical visit to Valle Salado
19:30 - 20:00 Reception
22:00 - 23:30 Sound and Light Show titled Memories of Valle Salado

8. Organised by
Fundación Valle Salado de Añana
Diputación Foral de Álava
Ayuntamiento de Añana
Sociedad de salineros Gatzagak
Sponsor
Kutxabank
Collaborators
Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte
Gobierno Vasco
Ayuntamiento de Vitoria-Gasteiz
Unesco Etxea
Technical Panel
Mónica Luengo
Alberto Plata
Information and registration
Free admission
Fundación Valle Salado de Añana
+34 945 35 14 13
info@vallesalado.com
info@unescoetxea.org
Conference venue:
Museo Artium. Sala de Conferencias
C/ Francia 24. Vitoria-Gasteiz. 01002
AÑANAKO GATZ HARANA FUNDAZIOA
FUNDACIÓN VALLE SALADO DE AÑANA
www.vallesalado.com