Xianggu, or edible fungus, is seen at the Qingyuan forest-mushroom co-culture system in Lishui. [Photo by Yao Ka for chinadaily.com.cn]

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) recently presented a certificate to Zhejiang's Qingyuan forest-mushroom co-culture system, recognizing it as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS).

FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu presented the certificate to the representatives of Qingyuan county, which is administered by Lishui city in East China's Zhejiang province, at a ceremony and exhibition held in Rome, Italy, from May 22 to 23.

The forest-mushroom co-culture system is a traditional and unique technique that integrates edible mushroom cultivation with forest management. The technique dates to the 13th century, when Wu Sangong, a resident of Qingyuan, invented a method to artificially cultivate xianggu, an edible fungus also known as the shiitake mushroom.

China is a global leader in agricultural heritage conservation. It presently has 19 GIAHS sites, the most in the world. Zhejiang province alone has four GIAHS sites, the most in China.

Lishui city is the only prefecture-level city with two GIAHS sites. The other site is the rice-fish co-culture system in Qingtian county, which was recognized in 2005.