Recognizing Indigenous Knowledge on Agricultural Landscape in Bali for Micro Climate and Environment Control

Abstract

Physical and cultural conditions are fundamental factors in creating the formation of a terraced agricultural landscape. Studying the formation of terraced landscape is essential in order to understand the interaction between human activities and the natural processes that can be used to strengthen the adaptive capability in response to climate change and environment control. Terraced agricultural landscape in Batukaru Mountain's slope was selected as one of major terraced rice landscapes in Bali. The spatial pattern distribution and characteristics of landscapes were investigated using geographical information system, and the indigenous knowledge mechanism behinds the sustainability was discussed physically and culturally. The results showed that the harmony between the vertical pattern of the landscape, shape of terrace, irrigation system and conservative vegetative landscape along the steep slope and high elevation has protected the landscape. The controlled irrigation system has assured water to flow from the top to the bottom and even to places that seem impossible to reach by natural river water. The intangible agricultural indigenous concept called Tri Hita Karana was adhered to in organizing the layout of landscape elements such as forest, temple, terraced paddy field, irrigation network, and settlement which will continue to affect the sustainability throughout years.

Recognizing indigenous knowledge of the Karangwangi Rural Landscape in South Cianjur, Indonesia for sustainable land management

“…Pronoto Mongso teaches the relevant environmental ethics and life balance used today, such as adaptation and environmental change (Retnowati et al 2014). In addition, Tri Hita Karana in Bali can also be used as a reference in overcoming problems in the landscape of Batukaru slopes and the associated factors of water, soil and climate throughout each year (Asmiwyati et al 2015). In short, it can be inferred that the Karangwangi people affect, and been affected by, their ecosystem.…”

“…These dynamic processes of transformation align with the opinion of Farina (2010) that the landscape continuously to transforms by way of religious, cultural, economic, political and environmental activity. Thus, information about the history of change and the formation of various patterns of landscape use in this village is of interest (Ramdhan et al 2015), and can facilitate sustainable landscape utilization and management (Takeuchi 2010;Jumari 2012;Asmiwyati 2015;Ramdhan et al 2015).…”

Socio cultural and agricultural local wisdom by cetho indigenous community to preserve the nature

“…The interaction between humans and nature that has occurred for many years gives birth to the adaptive ability of farmers in dealing with climate change and managing the environment (Asmiwyati et al, 2015). Local knowledge can be a social capital for climate change adaptation and food security of farm families (Martinez-baron et al, 2018;Saptutyningsih et al, 2019).…”

“…Local wisdom is considered to be able to overcome various global environmental problems because it was born from the community and in it there is integration between economic, environment, and socal (Forester, 2019;Vitasurya, 2016). In Bali, Indonesia even recognizes the concept of tri hita karana, which sees the relationship of God, man, and the environment (Asmiwyati et al, 2015).…”

Indigenous farmers’ perceptions of problems in the rice field agroecosystems in the upper Baram, Malaysia

“…The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) divides RAEs into four broad categories: rainfed upland rice, irrigated rice, rainfed lowland rice and flood-prone rice systems [ 4 , 5 ]. In RAEs cultivated by indigenous farmers, the management is based on a wide body of traditional knowledge and perceptions [ 6 – 10 ] that have been gained over a long period of continuous practice and interaction with the surrounding environment [ 11 ]. The rice terraces of Banaue, Philippines, for example, are an irrigated RAE with a sophisticated irrigation system built and traditionally managed for generations by indigenous people [ 12 , 13 ].…”