Upland Watershed Conservation and Agrosilvopastoral Systems in Bali

Programme Overview

Upland watershed degradation poses acute risks to downstream water supply, agricultural yields, and community resilience across mountainous tropical regions.⁣​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​⁣ This five-day course equips technical specialists with practical tools to integrate soil conservation with productive agroforestry and livestock systems. Focusing on fragile upland environments, participants examine the physical and biological mechanisms that reduce sedimentation, regulate hydrological flows, and enhance household livelihoods. The training reviews field-tested interventions adapted to steep terrain, contrasting traditional methods with contemporary watershed management frameworks.

Held in Bali, Indonesia, the programme provides direct exposure to functioning hillside terracing, subak community water management principles, and complex agrosilvopastoral regimes. Delegates study how vegetative barriers, multi-strata tree cropping, and cut-and-carry fodder banks protect upper catchments while sustaining rural incomes. The curriculum addresses core challenges in participatory resource governance, cross-sectoral coordination between agriculture and forestry departments, and the spatial delineation of critical micro-catchments using accessible mapping approaches.

Designed for public institutions and donor-funded project delivery units, the course emphasises operational design, field monitoring, and community-led compliance. Participants gain practical experience in evaluating slope stability, designing soil and water conservation structures, and planning controlled livestock grazing systems. By the conclusion of the workshop, attendees formulate realistic micro-catchment interventions that conform to international environmental and social safeguards, ensuring sustainable resource governance within vulnerable river basins.

Steep catchments in tropical Asia and small island states face severe environmental pressures, where deforestation, uncontrolled grazing, and improper hillside cultivation accelerate soil loss and jeopardise urban and rural water infrastructure.⁣​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​⁣ Key initiatives, including agricultural productivity programmes and capital investments in municipal water supply such as the Dili Water Supply Project, require coordinated upper-catchment protection to safeguard raw water sources and downstream investments. Public sector agencies must transition from isolated agricultural or forestry interventions to coordinated agrosilvopastoral management to secure sustainable water flows, reduce siltation, and maintain community food security.

Delivered by Risalat Consultants International in Bali, Indonesia, it combines expert-led sessions, real cases and group work, so that participants can apply what they learn in their own institution.

The Programme Strengthens Institutional Capability

• Principles of tropical upland hydrology, erosion dynamics, and sedimentation pathways
• Rapid catchment assessment methodologies and critical micro-catchment identification
• Integration of FAO watershed management guidelines into project planning cycles
• Assessing the impacts of deforestation and steep-slope farming on municipal water security
• Baseline data collection: combining participatory rural appraisals with remote-sensing data
• Technical specifications for bench terraces, retention trenches, and hillside diversion ditches
• Design and maintenance of vegetative contour barriers using vetiver and local grass varieties
• Gully stabilisation techniques using bio-engineering, live check dams, and local rock structures
• Climate and environmental risk assessment
• Adaptation and mitigation planning
• Sector strategies for energy, water and land
• Project design for climate and environmental goals

It is designed for agriculture extension directors and senior technical advisors, forestry officers and watershed management specialists, project coordinators from donor-financed agricultural programmes and others who want practical, current skills in climate, environment and natural resources.

The Growing Importance of Upland Watershed Conservation and Agrosilvopastoral Systems in Bali

Climate change, environmental pressure and resource management now shape national plans, budgets and investment decisions. Financiers increasingly expect climate and environmental considerations to be built into projects from the start.

Institutions that can plan for climate risks, manage natural resources well and prepare sound proposals are better placed to protect services and to access the funding available for this work.

Organisations increasingly require professionals capable of:

• Assess climate and environmental risks to their services and assets
• Design projects that meet climate and environmental goals
• Prepare proposals that financiers can approve
• Measure and report results credibly
• Work with communities and partners across sectors

Strong climate, environment and natural resources systems help organisations:

• Protect services and infrastructure from climate risks
• Access climate and environmental finance
• Meet national and international commitments
• Use natural resources sustainably

This Upland Watershed Conservation and Agrosilvopastoral Systems in Bali programme brings these elements together in a practical format, so that participants understand not only what good practice looks like but also how to introduce it in their own setting, with the people and resources they have.

Who Should Attend This Upland Watershed Conservation and Agrosilvopastoral Systems in Bali Training?

This programme is designed for:

• Agriculture extension directors and senior technical advisors
• Forestry officers and watershed management specialists
• Project coordinators from donor-financed agricultural programmes
• Irrigation and rural water supply engineers
• Soil and water conservation technical officers
• Livestock production specialists and rangeland planners
• Environment ministry officers managing protected catchment zones
• Land-use planning officers from municipal and district administrations
• Monitoring and evaluation specialists on watershed protection projects
• Climate change and environment officers
• Energy, water and agriculture sector staff
• Planning and policy officers

The programme suits experienced professionals as well as those moving into new responsibilities. Groups that mix institutions and countries are encouraged, because participants learn a great deal from each other’s experience.

Upland Watershed Conservation and Agrosilvopastoral Systems in Bali Training Objectives

Upon successful completion of this Upland Watershed Conservation and Agrosilvopastoral Systems in Bali Training, participants will be able to:

• Assess physical and biological indicators of watershed degradation in steep tropical catchments
• Design graded bench terraces and vegetative contour strips to minimise run-off and sediment yield
• Establish multi-tier agroforestry models that combine timber, fruit trees, and high-protein fodder banks
• Formulate controlled grazing schemes to prevent erosion while maintaining livestock production
• Develop participatory micro-catchment maps using open-source geospatial tools and community appraisals
• Structure participatory watershed management agreements that align forestry, agriculture, and local communities
• Integrate international environmental and social management frameworks into upland conservation initiatives
• Explain the main climate and environmental challenges for their sector
• Assess climate and environmental risks to services and assets
• Plan adaptation and mitigation measures

Each objective is practised during the programme through exercises, cases or group work, so that participants leave able to do it, not only to describe it.

Programme Contents and Structure

Upland Watershed Conservation and Agrosilvopastoral Systems in Bali Training Methodology

The course employs an adult-learning pedagogical approach combining interactive technical lectures, practical spatial exercises, and field-based observation in Bali. Participants work in syndicates to analyse real-world catchment scenarios, review empirical case studies from tropical island environments, and complete hands-on micro-catchment mapping tasks. Theoretical concepts are reinforced through peer review, problem-solving clinics, and guided diagnostic exercises that reflect the operating realities of donor-funded public sector interventions.

The programme combines:

• Expert-led sessions on current practice
• Regional and international case studies
• Group work and practical exercises
• Simulations and role plays where relevant
• Discussion of participants' own challenges
• Peer learning across institutions and countries
• Practical tools and templates to take back to work
• Daily reflection and action planning

Before the programme, a short pre-assessment helps the facilitators understand each participant’s role and priorities, so that examples and exercises can be adjusted to the group.⁣​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​⁣ Each day ends with a short reflection in which participants note what they will apply at work.

Expected Outcomes

Upon completion of this Upland Watershed Conservation and Agrosilvopastoral Systems in Bali Training, participants will be able to:

• Delineate and prioritise critical micro-catchments using slope, soil, and land-cover data
• Prepare engineering specifications for hillside terraces, contour banks, and sediment traps
• Formulate operational plans for high-yield fodder banks and controlled livestock grazing
• Draft community-led catchment management agreements with verifiable local enforcement rules
• Produce participatory micro-catchment maps displaying proposed conservation interventions
• Align national watershed investment proposals with multilateral development bank standards
• Assess climate and environmental risks
• Plan adaptation and mitigation measures

Participants leave with a personal action plan and practical tools they can use in their institution from the first week back. Institutions that send several participants can use the programme to agree shared methods and templates across teams, which makes improvements easier to sustain.

Institutional Application of Upland Watershed Conservation and Agrosilvopastoral Systems in Bali Training

This programme supports organisations in strengthening:

• Climate and environmental planning
• Project design
• Access to finance
• Results measurement
• Stakeholder involvement

Participants return with practical tools to improve:

• Risk assessments
• Concept notes
• Results frameworks
• Monitoring systems
• Partnership arrangements

The programme is built so that learning moves from the classroom into the institution. Participants work on their own processes and documents where possible, and leave with an action plan that their managers can review and support.

Regional Relevance & Application

Europe

European institutions apply climate, environment and natural resources within detailed regulatory frameworks and reform agendas. Participants from Europe can compare their practice with colleagues from other regions and test how established methods work under different conditions.

Africa

Across Africa, ministries, agencies and project teams working in climate, environment and natural resources increasingly operate alongside donor-financed programmes that expect clear systems and evidence. The programme helps participants adapt good practice to the institutions and resources they work with.

Middle East

In the Middle East, national development strategies and diversification plans place growing demands on climate, environment and natural resources. Participants explore how to build the capability these plans need inside public bodies and companies.

Asia

Institutions across Asia combine rapid growth with ambitious modernisation programmes. Participants from Asia can share their experience of scaling systems quickly and learn from approaches used elsewhere.

Pacific

Small island and Pacific states face particular constraints of size, distance and capacity. The programme highlights practical, proportionate approaches to climate, environment and natural resources that suit smaller institutions.

Holding the programme in Bali, Indonesia brings participants together away from their daily pressures, so they can compare how climate, environment and natural resources is handled in different settings. The same programme can also be delivered in-house for one institution, in its own country or online, with cases taken from its current work.

Host Country Profile – Indonesia

Programmes, Workshops, Exposures, Training Courses in Bali, Indonesia by Risalat Consultants International

Studying away from their own country gives participants time to focus, a fresh view of their own institution and the chance to build a network with colleagues from other countries.

Upland Watershed Conservation and Agrosilvopastoral Systems in Bali Training Deliverables

Participants receive support before, during and after the programme, so that preparation, learning and follow-up form one continuous experience.

Before the Programme

• Participant Pre-Assessment
• Upland Watershed Conservation and Agrosilvopastoral Systems in Bali Readiness Assessment
• Upland Watershed Conservation and Agrosilvopastoral Systems in Bali Resource Pack
• Preparatory Reading Materials
• Complimentary Visa Support & Advisory

During the Programme

• Airport Pickup & Welcome Assistance
• Accommodation with Breakfast
• Welcome Networking Dinner
• Risalat Training Kit (Bag, Bottle, Mug, T-Shirt, Cap, Passport Cover, Pens, Notebook, Magnet & Keychain)
• Comprehensive Upland Watershed Conservation and Agrosilvopastoral Systems in Bali Training Manual
• Climate Risk Screening Checklist
• Options Appraisal Template
• Concept Note Template
• Results Measurement Template
• Practical Workshops & Simulations
• Group Discussions & Peer Learning
• Daily Lunch and Refreshments
• Full Access to Training Venue Facilities
• Mini Pad / Tablet with Digital Learning Materials
• Field Visit (where applicable)
• Entertaining City Tour

After the Programme

• Certificate of Completion
• Risalat Programme Participation Recognition Award
• Post-Training Reference Materials
• Funding Readiness Checklist
• Monitoring and Reporting Template
• Post-Training Support & Follow-Up Guidance
• Programme Report

Institutions can also request a tailored in-house version of this programme, delivered at their premises or online. Request a proposal.

Common Challenges in Upland Watershed Conservation and Agrosilvopastoral Systems in Bali, And How This Training Helps

How can institutions assess climate and environmental risks to their services and assets?

The programme addresses this directly on the first day (Day 1: Upland Hydrology and Catchment Diagnostic Approaches), where participants practise the methods involved and adapt them to their own institution, then build it into their action plan.

How can institutions design projects that meet climate and environmental goals?

The programme addresses this directly on the second day (Day 2: Hillside Terracing and Soil Conservation Engineering), where participants practise the methods involved and adapt them to their own institution, then build it into their action plan.

How can institutions prepare proposals that financiers can approve?

The programme addresses this directly on the third day (Day 3: Agrosilvopastoral Systems and Fodder Bank Establishment), where participants practise the methods involved and adapt them to their own institution, then build it into their action plan.

How can institutions measure and report results credibly?

The programme addresses this directly on the fourth day (Day 4: Community Governance, Land Tenure, and Field Observations), where participants practise the methods involved and adapt them to their own institution, then build it into their action plan.

How can institutions work with communities and partners across sectors?

The programme addresses this directly on the fifth day (Day 5: Participatory Watershed Action Planning and Safeguards), where participants practise the methods involved and adapt them to their own institution, then build it into their action plan.

Frequently Asked Questions

When and where does the Upland Watershed Conservation and Agrosilvopastoral Systems in Bali programme take place?

It runs from 5 Jul 2027 to 9 Jul 2027, in Bali, Indonesia. The registration deadline is shown at the top of this page.

Who should attend?

The programme is designed for agriculture extension directors and senior technical advisors, forestry officers and watershed management specialists, project coordinators from donor-financed agricultural programmes, irrigation and rural water supply engineers, and others who want practical skills in climate, environment and natural resources.

Will I receive a certificate?

Yes. Participants who complete the programme receive a Certificate of Completion from Risalat Consultants International.

Can this programme be delivered for our institution only?

Yes. We can deliver a tailored in-house version at your premises, in another city or online, built around your own cases. Use the proposal request on this page.

Do I need prior experience in climate, environment and natural resources?

No specialist background is required beyond experience in a related role. A short pre-assessment helps the facilitators adapt the sessions to the group.

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