PROF. DR. PARVIZ KOOHAFKAN

Areas of Expertise

Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development; Agroecology and Agricultural Heritage Systems; Integrated Natural Resources Management and Ecosystem Restoration; Biodiversity and genetic resources conservation and sustainable use, Farmers Rights to plant genetic resources for food and agriculture; Family Farming; food security and sustainable food systems; climate change adaptation and mitigation; environmental impact assessment; land degradation assessment, land use planning and management; integrated landscapes management, etc.

Brief Bio

Dr. Parviz Koohafkan is an Iranian Nationality with a Ph.D. in Terrestrial Ecology from the University of Montpellier France, and an Engineering Degree in Watershed Management from the University of Teheran, Iran. He was professor of Ecology and Natural Resources management in Iran and Montpellier, France and worked as Chief Technical Advisor for Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Haiti and Ecuador. He moved in 1992 to FAO headquarter in Rome and held several Senior positions in Sustainable Development Department. of FAO in Rome. He was the Director of Land and Water Division, Director of Climate Change and Bioenergy Division and Director of the Rural Development Division of Sustainable Development Department of Food and Agriculture Organization of United Nations (FAO). He was also the Task Manager of several Chapters of Agenda 21 from 1992 to 2012 particularly chapter 14 on Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development (SARD). He conceptualized the UN Global Partnership Initiative on “Conservation and Adaptive Management of Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS)” and submitted to the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in Johannesburg, South Africa in 2002. He retired from FAO at the end of 2012.

Since his retirement, he has been working as the Founder and President of the World Agricultural Heritage Forum as well as Senior Research Fellow in Bioversity international, Senior consultant for FAO, IFAD, Norwegian International Cooperation, etc. providing guidance and conceptualization of programs and projects, technical assistance and capacity development in Sustainable Food Systems; Water Food and Energy Nexus, Climate Change adaptation and mitigation and mobilizing bilateral and multilateral funding resources from institutions such as Global Environment Facility, Green Climate Fund, EU and other funding institutions. He was the member representing the Middle East Region to the Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group on Farmers’ Rights (2019-2020).

List of Recent Publications

Koohafkan, P. The Importance of Food and Agricultural Heritage Systems in Achieving Sustainable Development Goals in: The Mediterranean Diet, from Health to Life Style and a sustainable Future, edited by Xavier Medina and Helen Macbeth, ICAF, Alimenta Popularum Series, March 1rst, 2021, The International Commission and the Anthropology of Food and Nutrition E-Book.

Koohafkan, P. Grego S. Le Conoscenze del Passato per Agricoltura del Futuro ”, David Ghaleb Editore, Novembre 2020, Roma, Italia.

Koohafkan, P. Price T.L., Agricultural Heritage Systems, their Resilience and Climate Smart Communities in: Communities and Cultural Heritage global Issues Local Values, edited by Valerie Higgins and Diane Douglas, Copyright Year 2021, Earthscan, Londo

Koohafkan, P. Altieri, M., Forgotten Agricultural Heritage, Connecting Sustainable Food Systems and Sustainable Development, Earthscan, Routledge, 2017, London, England.

Koohafkan, P. Food and Wisdom, Diversity for Development and Development for Diversity, Bioversity International and FAO, 2013, Rome.

Koohafkan, P. Sustainable Diets and Biodiversity: Directions and Solutions for Policy, Research and Actions. 2012, FAO, Rome.

Koohafkan, P. Lead author, State of the World Land and Water for Food and Agriculture; Managing Systems at Risk, November 2011, Earth-Scan and FAO, Rome.

Koohafkan, P. Dynamic conservation of Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems for a sustainable agriculture and rural development, FAO, 2011, Rome.

Koohafkan, P. Altieri, M. Holt-Zimenez, W. Green Agriculture: Foundations for Biodiverse, Resilient and Productive Agricultural Systems, International journal of agricultural sustainability, Earth-Scan 2011 London.

Koohafkan, P. Altieri, M. Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS): A legacy for the future (in 3 languages: English, Spanish and French), 2011, FAO, Rome.