Managing a living cultural landscape: lessons and insights from the subaks of Bali, a UNESCO World Heritage Site

The document examines the challenges facing the subaks of Bali—traditional farmers' organizations managing irrigation and water temples—following the 2012 UNESCO World Heritage Site inscription. It highlights a disconnect between the initial nomination vision and the actual implementation, which has been hindered by bureaucratic hurdles and the exclusion of key local stakeholders. The brief identifies critical threats to the landscape's viability, including the high cost of rituals, water scarcity, land conversion driven by high taxes, and a shift toward intensive farming. It argues that the existing democratic governance of the subaks, exemplified by the Forum Pekaseh Catur Angga Batukaru, provides a foundation for a successful farmer-led management system. The author recommends implementing the UNESCO-approved management plan, establishing a comprehensive regency-level management body, and meaningfully engaging subak leaders to ensure the long-term preservation of the living cultural landscape.

• The implementation of the World Heritage Site has been hindered by a lack of continuity between the nomination team and the Governing Assembly, as well as the exclusion of critical local figures such as the king of Tabanan, the high priest of Batukaru, and subak leaders (pekasehs).
• Subaks face significant economic and social pressures, including the high cost of essential rituals, high land taxes that encourage land conversion, and a declining interest in farming among the youth who prefer tourism jobs.
• There is a shift from traditional rice varieties (padi lokal) to new varieties (padi baru) because the latter have shorter growing seasons and require fewer expensive rituals, while technical support for traditional organic cultivation remains limited.
• While tourism supports the economy, its rapid growth since the UNESCO inscription has increased traffic, garbage, and water demand, potentially altering the landscape if not managed carefully.
• The subaks possess the necessary governance capacity for site management through their traditional deliberative practices and the creation of the Forum Pekaseh Catur Angga Batukaru.

APA

Davis, M. (2015). Managing a living cultural landscape: lessons and insights from the subaks of Bali, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Stockholm Environment Institute. https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/SEI-PB-2015-Bali-cultural-landscape.pdf

Chicago

Davis, Marion. Managing a living cultural landscape: lessons and insights from the subaks of Bali, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Stockholm Environment Institute, 2015. https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/SEI-PB-2015-Bali-cultural-landscape.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Davis |first1=Marion |title=Managing a living cultural landscape: lessons and insights from the subaks of Bali, a UNESCO World Heritage Site |publisher=Stockholm Environment Institute |date=2015 |url=https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/SEI-PB-2015-Bali-cultural-landscape.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{davis2015managing, author = {Davis, Marion}, title = {{Managing a living cultural landscape: lessons and insights from the subaks of Bali, a UNESCO World Heritage Site}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2015}, url = {https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/SEI-PB-2015-Bali-cultural-landscape.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }