Outdoor Recreational Activities in Bali, Indonesia : The Cultural Landscape Subak as a Respite

Sammanfattning: While Indonesia faces countless environmental challenges due to the deforestation and exploitation of nature, the terraced rice landscapes of Bali – known as subak – appear to be not only more protected, but also better preserved than the rest of the country’s greenspaces. It is therefore imperative to ponder upon the question of why this discrepancy may be and, in this case, investigate how subak visitors have been using these areas for outdoor recreational activities and thus contribute to greater environmental awareness. This first study of outdoor recreational activities in the cultural landscape subak aims to identify what characterises these activities and describe how these activities connect to sustainable development. The study compiled a quantitative questionnaire answered by fifty-eight respondents, five semi-structured in-depth interviews, and a series of participant observations. Based on quantitative and qualitative analyses, nine characteristics were identified: (1) colours of nature, (2) smells of nature, (3) wide open space, (4) sounds of nature, (5) species richness, (6) distinctive cultural and religious practices, (7) togetherness, (8) protection, as well as (9) affordability. The study described the positive and negative connections between outdoor recreational activities in the cultural landscape subak with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, particularly on SDG 3 Good Health and Well-Being, SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities, and SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production. The results of the study revealed that (1) outdoor recreational activities in the subak areas have yielded benefits, namely improved cognitive and social skills, as well as an enhanced state of health and well-being, (2) the role of the subak areas in facilitating outdoor recreational activities has shown cognitive, emotional, and behavioural changes in the study participants, and (3) outdoor recreational activities in the subak areas have fostered a more environmentally conscious mindset that helps improve human health and well-being. Above all, the study emphasises a new environmental mindset, whereby there is a genuine desire to preserve/conserve the subak environment and to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within the framework of this study. Overall, the mixed methods analysis applied in the study provided new transcendent perspectives that in future research can form the starting point for emphasising outdoor recreational activities with characteristics that can improve health and well-being. In summary, such research can both inspire change as well as usher in concrete actions and solutions to address environmental threats to the cultural landscape subak – which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.