Learning Visit To Cultural Landscape Of Bali Province: The Subak System as a Manifestation of the Tri Hita Karana Philosophy

Nurturing an inspired and innovative collaborative learning alliance for Community and Science-based Conservation, Research and Development of Jingkieng Jri / Living Root Bridge Cultural Landscapes of Meghalaya, India for UNESCO World Heritage Site Nomination

Vertical: Living Root Bridge

Date of Trip: 13th June 2023 to 23rd June 2023

Destination: Indonesia

Trip Overview:

Inscribed as a Cultural Landscape in 2012, the rice terraces and water temples of Bali reveal a cooperative water management system of canals and weirs, known as subak. Dating back to the 9th century, the subak system reflects the philosophical concept of Tri Hita Karana, which is rooted in human-nature harmony and brings together the realms of the spirit, the human works and nature. It reflects democratic and egalitarian farming practices, which enabled the Balinese to become prolific rice growers and support their growing population.

Purpose of the trip:

To  inspire  learning,  capacity  building,  novel  alliances  and  knowledge  transfer  within  all  LRB  Cooperatives  through  experiencing  the  Subak  System UNESCO  World  Heritage  Site  nomination,  underlying  process  and  impact  with  specific  focus  on  attributes,  values,  OUV  criteria  and  community-led traditional protection-management-monitoring approach.

Trip duration: 9 days in Indonesia

Destination(s): Indonesia (Jatiluwih Subak, Baduy, Bayang)

Trip Objectives:

Learning  sustainable  conservation  and  community-based  management  rooted  in  traditional  knowledge  related  to  local  ecosystems,  and  addressing  complex problems  related  to  impact  of  social, political and economic conditions (including tourism pressures), and changing climate. Seeing  the  challenges  resulting  from  unregulated  tourism  and  the  need for  balanced  responsible  development, which incorporates indigenous nature-culture richness with socio-economic-ecological  growth, and all round health – happiness. Nurturing future learning alliances between communities  from Bali province and LRB Cooperatives  to  facilitate a balance between nature and culture within  the  Living  Cultural  Landscape.  Specific  learning  related to  community  leadership  and  participation  connected  to  traditional  knowledge  and  conservation  practices,  heritage-based  mountain  development and livelihoods,  responsible  tourism and waste management, nature and craft-based  entrepreneurship,  education  and  preservation  of  intangible  heritage,  vernacular  construction  and  disaster preparedness, importance of supportive policy decisions, and planning in a rapidly changing  environment.  Specific focus areas for the learning visit are listed below:

 

  • Learning the environment-based ancient  agriculture  practice  of  integrated  natural-cultural  landscapes in Bali.

 

  • Specifically learning the thousand-year-old ‘subak’ cooperative social system, which involves water and/or  plant  use  management  within  the  watershed  to  facilitate  indigenous  rice  cultivation  through  an  integrated  socio-ecological-agricultural-religious-economic  system  rooted in principles of Tri Hita Karana philosophy.

 

  • Understanding and learning  Tri  Hita  Karana (three  causes  of  prosperity)  philosophy  and  seeing connections with indigenous Khasi relationship with environment (mariang). Tri Hita  Karana consists  of  parhyangan,  palemahan,  and pawongan principles  – based  on  harmonious relationship between humans and the Gods, humans and nature, amd between  humans  respectively.  The  principle  of parhyangan  is  reflected  in  a  series  of  rituals  carried  out  both  at  the  farmer  level  and  the  Subak level,  from  starting  agricultural  activities  until  storing  the  harvested  rice  in  granaries.  The  principle  of  palemahan is  implemented  by  making paddy  fields without destroying  the contours of  the land, building and maintaining  irrigation  canals.  The  principle  of  pawongan is  demonstrated  by  the  existence  of  a  Subak organizational  structure and  the  preparation  of awig-awig (Subak  regulations)  to maintain  harmonious  relationships  among  Subak members.  Awig-awig  regulates  members’  contributions and penalty according to work activities, amount of harvest, land area owned;  payment  for water  temples  operational in exchange  to  the  right  to water  springs. Overall,  this  ancient  irrigated  agricultural  system  serves  small-scale  landholders  mainly  in  lowland  paddy fields within a shared common watershed.

 

  • Key learning experiences  include  water  harvesting  from  volcanic  mountaintops  through  intricate irrigation systems, careful articulation of the natural contours, Water temple-based  rituals,  democratic  and  egalitarian  characteristics  of  governance  and  water  distribution.  Specifically  understanding  all  underlying  aspects  related  to  land-use,  governance,  and  protection-management, which have together shaped and sustained this practice.

 

  • Experiencing the role of deep cooperation within the management method, which is based on knowledge of biological resources existing in the Balinese agro-ecosystem, a finely tuned annual  natural  water-crop  cycle,  zoning  and  planning,  extensive  soil-water  conservation,  mastery  of  pest  control  regime  by  synchronizing  upstream  and  downstream  irrigation  schedules, accompanied by religious rituals.
  • Understanding matrilineal systems  in  Subak and  neighboring  Micronesia  (comparing  with  LRB Cooperatives)
  • Realizing the need  for  careful  community  and  science-based  planning  and  responsible  equitable development through learning about specific threats to the Subak system, and the response  of  the  community  and  local  government.

Examples  of  threats  include  impact  of  top-down  green  revolution  related  farming practices  (use  of  pesticides,  artificial  fertilizers  and  non  native  varieties  of  rice),  and  impact  of  unregulated  tourism  (on  land,  farmers,  natural resources, cooperative systems, traditional values and knowledge).

Activity/Visit: Visit to Tambligan Lake and temple

Visit to Pura Luhur Batukar

Visit to Pura Pucak Petali

Purpose/Objective:  Site  visit  to  ‘Cultural  Landscape  of  Bali  Province:  the  Subak  System  as  a  Manifestation of the Tri Hita Karana Philosophy’, UNESCO World Heritage Site areas

Location: Tamblingan Lake, Pura Luhur Batukaru and Pura Luhur Pucak Petali Temple, Bali, Indonesia

 

 

 

Visit to local morning market 

Description: Market visit demonstrates the local produce, daily requirements of the people. It emphasizes the role of rituals, processions and required goods in the regular lifestyle of the local people.

Pura Tirta Empul is a part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site area. It is one of the prominent temples in terms of the cultural and religious context of the place. It also facilitates very high tourist footfall. The management process is useful to be studied regarding tourism management, maintaining cultural context, and restrictions.

Subak Palawan is a group of rice farms under one Subak that is ‘Subak Palawan’. detailed discussion about functioning of Subak as a system, farming practices, impact of UNESCO recognition and interaction between communities improved the understanding and resolved doubts.  

Purpose/Objective: Market as an important factor affecting cultural Landscape, Site visit to ‘Cultural Landscape of Bali Province: the Subak System as a Manifestation of the Tri Hita Karana Philosophy’, UNESCO World Heritage Site areas 

Location: Market near Jatiluwih, Pura Tirta Empul, Subak Palawan

 

Visit to Pura Danu Batur, Lake Batur

Description: Pura Danu Batur is a religiously very important temple for the entire Bali province, also  a part of UNESCO nominated area. The visit was scheduled on an important festival day for local  people in order to learn and understand the socio-cultural practices, importance of religious beliefs  in protection and management of heritage sites and its practical implications.

Penglipuran traditional village is a famous tourist site. It is a village with intact traditional  infrastructure, layout and planning. Though, some alterations as per the modern requirements and  materials can be observed. 

The village also has challenges of tourist inflow. Learnings from such sites will help better management practices in Jingkieng Jri/Ltu Chrai Cultural Landscape. It is also an important learning in terms of sustainable livelihood ideas that can be thought of other than tourism.

Purpose/Objective: Site visit to ‘Cultural Landscape of Bali Province: the Subak System as a Manifestation of the Tri Hita Karana Philosophy’, UNESCO World Heritage Site areas; learnings for Protection and Management and Tourism plan.

Visit to Subak Jatiluwih

Description:  Since Jingkieng  Jri/Lyu  Chrai  Cultural  Landscape  of Meghalaya  is  in  the  process  of  nomination  for  UNESCO World Heritage Site, Subak Cultural Landscape becomes a very important case study. Subak  Jatiluwih is a group of  rice  farms under one Subak  that is ‘Subak  Jatiluwih’ in  Jatiluwih village Bali.  Important factor to learn from Subak Jatiluwih is the management of tourism and continued practice  of  agriculture.  Tourist  friendly  interventions  in  the  area  such  as  pathways,  directions,  points  of  attraction,  small  stalls  selling  local  produce,  waste  disposal  bins,    enhance  and  ease  the  user  experience.  remarkable cleanliness  can  be  observed  throughout  the  area  indicating  successful  management. 

The  visit  was  followed  by  a  long  discussion  session  between  Subak  members,  officials  from  Bali,  Community  members  from  Meghalaya  and  the  Jingkieng  Jri  team.  MoU  signing  between  ‘Subak  Jatiluwih’  and  ‘Syrwet  U  Barim  Mariang  Jingkieng  Jri  Cooperative  federation  Ltd.’,  to  encourage  knowledge sharing

Purpose/Objective:  Site  visit  to  ‘Cultural  Landscape  of  Bali  Province:  the  Subak  System  as  a  Manifestation of the Tri Hita Karana Philosophy’, UNESCO World Heritage Site areas, Sharing session  between  communities,  discussion  about  challenges  and  opportunities  from  both  sides  regarding  UNESCO  recognition  process  and  actual  recognition.  MoU  signing  between  ‘Subak  Jatiluwih’  and  ‘Syrwet U Barim Mariang Jingkieng Jri Cooperative federation Ltd.’ 

Location: Jatiluwih village

Activity: Return to Denpasar

Description:  Since Jingkieng  Jri/Lyu  Chrai  Cultural  Landscape  of Meghalaya  is  in  the  process  of  nomination  for  UNESCO World Heritage Site, Subak Cultural Landscape becomes a very important case study. Subak  Jatiluwih is a group of  rice  farms under one Subak  that is ‘Subak  Jatiluwih’ in  Jatiluwih village Bali.  Important factor to learn from Subak Jatiluwih is the management of tourism and continued practice  of  agriculture.  Tourist  friendly  interventions  in  the  area  such  as  pathways,  directions,  points  of  attraction,  small  stalls  selling  local  produce,  waste  disposal  bins,    enhance  and  ease  the  user  experience.  remarkable cleanliness  can  be  observed  throughout  the  area  indicating  successful  management. 

The  visit  was  followed  by  a  long  discussion  session  between  Subak  members,  officials  from  Bali,  Community  members  from  Meghalaya  and  the  Jingkieng  Jri  team.  MoU  signing  between  ‘Subak  Jatiluwih’  and  ‘Syrwet  U  Barim  Mariang  Jingkieng  Jri  Cooperative  federation  Ltd.’,  to  encourage  knowledge sharing

Purpose/Objective:  Site  visit  to  ‘Cultural  Landscape  of  Bali  Province:  the  Subak  System  as  a  Manifestation of the Tri Hita Karana Philosophy’, UNESCO World Heritage Site areas, Sharing session  between  communities,  discussion  about  challenges  and  opportunities  from  both  sides  regarding  UNESCO  recognition  process  and  actual  recognition.  MoU  signing  between  ‘Subak  Jatiluwih’  and  ‘Syrwet U Barim Mariang Jingkieng Jri Cooperative federation Ltd.’ 

 

 

Activity: Traveled to Banten, Indonesia, then Proceeded to Baduy Luwar Village

Description: This excursion held significance for the understanding of Jingkieng Jri/Lyu Chrai Cultural Landscape as Baduy Luwar Village featured a living root bridge, directly linked to the nomination of JJCL Meghalaya.

Purpose/Objective: To analyze and draw parallels between the Jingkieng Jri/Lyu Chrai Cultural Landscape and the cultural landscape of Baduy village.

Activity: Traveled to Jambatan Akar (root bridge) in Baduy Village

Description: This visit held significant importance for understanding the Jingkieng Jri/Lyu Chrai Cultural Landscape, as the village boasted a living root bridge directly linked to the nomination of JJLCCL Meghalaya.

Purpose/Objective: To compare and identify similarities between the Jingkieng Jri/Lyu Chrai Cultural Landscape and the Jambatan Akar Cultural Landscape in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Number of participants: 11 (details below)

 

No. 

Name

Age

1 

Piyiarsing Tynsong 

40

2 

Riphor Nongrum 

39

3 

Mohonsing Khongshun 

26

4 

Philina Khongsdir 

23

5 

Nosbilian Lynser 

66

6 

Tirot Sing Wansai 

52

7 

Ketki Prashant Pathak 

30

8 

Tilaris Marwein 

28

9 

Veveane Sayo 

29

10 

Salnang Koksi Sangma 

34

11 

Sanjeev Shankar 

42

 

Total budget allocated for the trip: ₹ 15,56,462/-