Timor-Leste is facing increasing vulnerability to natural hazards such as droughts, floods, and erosion, which are further intensified by climate change. These challenges threaten water availability, ecosystem health, and local livelihoods. To address these risks, Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) and ecohydrology approaches provide a resilient framework for integrated management of water and ecosystems, tailored to the country’s unique needs as a small island developing state (SIDS).
In response, a two-day workshop on Ecohydrology and Nature-Based Solutions for Water Management was held in Dili on 25–26 November 2025. The event laid the groundwork for Timor-Leste to potentially host its first UNESCO Ecohydrology Demonstration Site, a milestone expected to enhance national water security and climate resilience.
The workshop, organized by PERMATIL (Permaculture Timor-Leste) in collaboration with UNESCO, brought together government officials, academics, NGOs, local leaders, community groups, and youth. Participants explored how nature-based solutions can restore ecosystems, improve water management, and address climate challenges across the country.
International experts from China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Poland, and the Republic of Korea contributed insights on global advances in ecohydrology. National representatives outlined Timor-Leste’s climate-related challenges, plans to strengthen capacity through curriculum innovation and research-based learning, and strategies to embed ecohydrology principles into policy and education systems. Local community leaders complemented these perspectives by sharing indigenous knowledge and traditional water practices.
Despite strong cultural foundations and active community engagement, participants identified key challenges, including limited hydrological data, fragmented governance, and scattered water information, which hinder effective monitoring and decision-making.
The workshop included a field visit to Remexio to observe the “seeding water” initiative, a successful community-led restoration method led by PERMATIL. This approach uses small retention ponds to revive springs, linking issues such as soil erosion, dry-season water shortages, and watershed degradation to practical ecohydrology solutions already in place.
The workshop concluded with a shared commitment from national and international experts to support Timor-Leste in strengthening research capacity, improving water data systems, and expanding partnerships with international ecohydrology institutions. These combined efforts represent a significant step toward establishing a UNESCO Ecohydrology Demonstration Site in Timor-Leste, which could serve as a model for other small island developing states in the Asia-Pacific region.
