The Role of Nature-Based Solutions for Healthy Communities in Timor-Leste
14-15 October 2025 | Dili Institute of Technology
Timor-Leste faces unique environmental and development challenges, from watershed degradation and water insecurity to food system vulnerability and malnutrition. This symposium explores the powerful potential of Nature Based Solutions (NbS) to build healthy, resilient communities through ecological restoration, local knowledge, and sustainable development.
Timor-Leste is at a critical juncture where environmental degradation intersects with pressing social and economic needs. The country’s fragile ecosystems are under increasing stress due to deforestation, unsustainable land use, sedimentation of rivers, and loss of biodiversity. These challenges exacerbate water insecurity, soil erosion, and flooding risks threatening agriculture, livelihoods, and community health.
Food system vulnerability remains high, with recurrent malnutrition, stunting in children, and limited dietary diversity. Climate change compounds these pressures, manifesting in unpredictable rainfall patterns, prolonged dry spells, and extreme weather events. Current development approaches often focus on infrastructure and service delivery but underutilize the potential of Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) interventions that work with nature to address societal challenges while providing environmental, social, and economic benefits.
Despite promising local practices such as traditional watershed management, community reforestation, and integrated farming systems, these efforts remain fragmented, small-scale, and insufficiently embedded in national strategies. There is a need to bridge policy, science, and community practice to make NbS a core pillar of Timor-Leste’s sustainable development, climate resilience, and public health agenda.Â
is providing a forum for researchers, policymakers, practitioners and community leaders to co-create pathways for scaling NbS and aligning them with Timor-Leste’s national priorities. Symposium participants will leave with actionable insights to promote environmental stewardship and community wellbeing through nature-based development.
Program
The draft program is now available in PDF format.
Please note this version is dated 9 October and is subject to change.
What are the gaps to be addressed?
- Policy-Implementation Gap: While Timor-Leste’s climate change and environmental policies mention conservation, there is limited operational integration of NbS into water management, agriculture, and health programs.
- Knowledge Gap: Many community-based NbS initiatives are not well-documented, evaluated, or shared, leading to missed opportunities for scaling successful models.
- Capacity Gap: Limited technical expertise, funding access, and cross-sector coordination hinder effective NbS planning and implementation.
- Health-Nutrition Link Gap: The role of NbS in improving nutrition, reducing disease vectors, and enhancing mental wellbeing is underexplored in policy and practice.
- Financing Gap: Access to climate finance, green investment, and public-private partnerships for NbS remains weak.
- Equity Gap:Â There is progress to be made in promoting diversity and inclusion within community-led delivery of NbS
Objectives of the symposium
- Showcase NbS (at the catchment level) that support water access, erosion control, and biodiversity conservation
- Explore the integration of NbS into national water resource management strategies, rural development, and climate adaptation plans
- Examine how NbS (including permaculture, agroforestry, and regenerative agriculture) can enhance food and nutrition security at the community level
- Present case studies from Timor-Leste and other tropical regions to share practical lessons for local application
- Discuss governance and financing models for NbS programs, including public-private partnerships, climate finance, and community-led investment mechanisms
- Facilitate cross-disciplinary dialogue among hydrologists, planners, nutritionists, ecologists, and development practitioners to co-design pathways for scaling NbS
- Promote diversity and inclusion in community-led delivery of NbS
Format & approach
Plenary sessions
Keynote addresses by regional experts in NbS, climate resilience, and public health
Technical panels
Thematic discussions on water, food systems, biodiversity, and financing
Case study showcases
Presentation of NbS practices from Timor-Leste and comparable tropical settings
Interactive workshops
Co-creation sessions to identify priority actions and partnerships
Networking forum
Space for stakeholders to connect and explore collaborations
Program
The draft program is now available in PDF format. Please note this version is dated 9 October and is subject to change.
Expected outcomes
- Gain evidence-based insights on how NbS can address Timor-Leste’s interconnected challenges in water, food, health, and climate resilience.
- Identify priority policy recommendations for integrating NbS into national and municipal development plans.
- Commit to collaborative pilot projects and cross-sector partnerships to scale up NbS.
- Map potential financing pathways for NbS, including climate funds, donor programs, and local investment.
- Establish a knowledge-sharing network for NbS practitioners and researchers in Timor-Leste.
Alignment with national and global agendas
This symposium supports Timor-Leste’s commitments under:
- National Adaptation Plan (NAP)
- National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP)
- Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)—particularly SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 15 (Life on Land).
- UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration 2021–2030
Publish your research
Presenters and stakeholders are invited to publish their research in the following Timor-Leste based journals:
- Timor-Leste Journal of Business and Management (TLJBM)
Submission Deadline: October 15, 2025
Issue: Vol. 7, Issue 2 (to be published December 19, 2025)
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- Timor-Leste Journal of Engineering and Science (TLJES)
Submission Deadline: November 15, 2025
Issue: Vol. 5, Issue 1 (to be published December 19, 2025)
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Register now
Registration for the symposium is now open. To register, please submit your details via the link below.
Hosts and organisers
Dr Aderita Mariana Takeleb, DIT
Dr Aderita Mariana Takeleb is Vice Rector of Academic Affairs at Dili Institute of Technology.
Her recent research projects focused on hydrological analysis for the prevention of inundation in rivers in Dili, and collaborative river governance and management.
Dr. Aderita's career highlights include leading the hydrology team in completing a detailed engineering design project for road rehabilitation Timor Leste, publishing three scientific articles in reputable international journals related to Water Resource Management, and receiving the 'Best Lecturer' award for two consecutive years (2022 and 2023).
Mr Marcos Taec Abi, DIT
Mr. Marcos Taec Abi, L.Ed., M.A. is Pro-Rector Planning and External Cooperation at Dili Institute of Technology.
Dr Edio Da Costa
Dr. Edio da Costa, M.Cs is Executive Director of GS, Research, ICS at Dili Institute of Technology.