Subak, or also known as irrigation, is the water management system that are used for paddy fields on the island of Bali, Indonesia. Subak is an irrigation system that involves new technology to link in with socio-cultural societies in the area. It is a natural irrigation system that has cooperatively well-managed canals and weirs that draw from a single water source. It was first developed in the 9th century and to this day, it is still well used. Irrigation is not only about providing water for Balinese farmer?s crop roots, but it is also used to build a complex ecosystem. 

The components of Subak are:

Forests- protects the water supply

• Terraced paddy landscapes
• Rice fields- connected by a system of canals
• Tunnels and weirs
• Villages
• Temples - it marks either the source of water or its passage through the temple on its way downhill to irrigate the land.

The temples are one of the most important component in this system as these temples are built specially by the farmers for the Goddess of prosperity and fertility, Dewi Sri. 

Subak is the traditional knowledge that is still suitable for the people here in Bali to date. Its system is the manifestation of Tri Hita Karana philosophy which has a literally meaning as ?the three causes of well-being? or ?three reasons for prosperity?. They are:

• Harmony among people.
• Harmony with nature or environment.
• Harmony with God. 

Subak brings prosperity to every aspects of life itself. Not only to human, but also to the environment and our relationship with God. So, it?s perfect that Bali?s Subak is now listed on UNESCO?s World Heritage list since 2012 as well as being awarded World Heritage Cultural Landscape status by UNESCO in 2013. 

With this Subak system, I am sure that our environment will be well managed for next generations to come. 

Source of information: various websites