Learning from the Subak World Heritage Property: The Importance of Co-Creation for Water Management and Climate Adaptation

Authors

  • Diana Rahman

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DOI:

https://doi.org/10.58981/bluepapers.2025.2.04

Keywords:

UNESCO World Heritage, subak, cultural landscape, co-creation, local and traditional knowledge

Abstract

The Cultural Landscape of Bali Province, a UNESCO World Heritage property in Indonesia, features ancient rice terraces and the subak irrigation system, reflecting a millennium-old harmony between humans, nature and the spiritual world. The subak landscape faces increasing challenges that threaten its sustainability. Alongside the pressure of rapidly expanding tourism, the subak system is increasingly vulnerable to water scarcity and shifting weather patterns due to climate change. This article examines the role of co-creation and local knowledge, advocating for the incorporation of community-led practices in the management of World Heritage properties. Co-creation can improve the effectiveness of management plans, align conservation goals with local communities’ adaptive practices and enhance the resilience of the subak system. The article underscores the critical need for World Heritage management plans to integrate climate adaptation strategies rooted in local knowledge, ensuring a more responsive and sustainable approach to preserving the heritage landscape.

How to Cite

Rahman, D. (2025). Learning from the Subak World Heritage Property: The Importance of Co-Creation for Water Management and Climate Adaptation. Blue Papers, 4(2). https://doi.org/10.58981/bluepapers.2025.2.04

Published

2025-11-10

Issue

Vol. 4 No. 2 (2025): Water Management in World Heritage Properties at a Time of Climate Change

Section

methodologies and case studies

License

Copyright (c) 2025 Diana Rahman

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Author Biography

Diana Rahman

Diana Farisah Rahman completed her PhD at University College London in 2021. Her research examined sociocultural changes in the subak landscape and the resilience of the Balinese community in the face of climate change. She also explored the role of agroecology and food heritage in promoting a more sustainable food system. Her research interests focus on cultural landscapes, heritage management and the intersection of cultural heritage, traditional and indigenous knowledge and climate change.

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