Webinar series: Permaculture solutions for Climate Change

Water restoration and catchment management

Learn from community-scale success stories in Timor-Leste

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Join us for an engaging webinar series, “Water restoration and catchment management” exploring innovative water restoration systems developed by Timor-Leste communities. Learn how these initiatives, implemented in a hot tropical climate with distinct wet and dry seasons, address critical water challenges through the application of permaculture principles and design. These events are organised in partnership with Permatil Global, Permatil Timor-Leste, Permaculture Association Britain and with collaboration from Muenster University.

Through this 3-part webinar series, Eugenio (Ego) Lemos (Executive Director, Permatil Timor-Leste), Izu Pereira (PermaYouth TL Director ) and Lachlan McKenzie ( Co-founder and Director, Permatil Global Australia), along with other Permatil and PermaYouth staff, will share valuable knowledge and experiences on addressing water management challenges through community-driven permaculture solutions, based on successful experiences by communities in Timor-Leste.

We especially invite African communities, refugees, young people, women affected by water issues and those in drought-affected regions to join us. Also, anyone interested in learning about innovative water catchment, permaculture solutions and community-driven approaches, is welcome.

ABOUT THE WEBINARS

Webinar 1 - Water security: Preparing the ground, understanding land and engaging with the community

Date & time: Tue 5th Nov, 7AM GMT / 17:30 ACDT / 16:00 TLT / 10AM EAT / 9AM CAT

Description: Discover essential strategies for land preparation and community engagement that are key to designing and managing effective, community-owned water catchment systems.

Webinar 2 - Water security: Design, implementation and maintenance

Date & time: Tue 12th Nov, 7AM GMT / 17:30 ACDT / 16:00 TLT / 10AM EAT / 9AM CAT

Description: Learn key aspects of the design and maintenance of water catchment systems based on Timor-Leste communities’ successful experience.

Webinar 3 - Water security: Building livelihood opportunities, community resilience and resource security

Date & time: Tue 19th Nov, 7AM GMT / 17:30 ACDT / 16:00 TLT / 10AM EAT / 9AM CAT

Description: Understand the link between water security and livelihood opportunities, improved community resilience and how resource management supports sustainable development.

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS AND FACILITATOR

SPEAKER 1: Eugenio (Ego) Lemos

Ego is the founder and CEO of Permatil Timor-Leste and Co-Founder/Director of Permatil Global. He co-authored the Permaculture Guidebook published in Timor-Leste and the 2018 Tropical Permaculture Guidebook (international edition) published in 2018. Ego is currently working on creating the Timorese language edition.

Ego wrote the permaculture lesson plans and subject content for the Timor-Leste Government national primary school curriculum in 2015, and the agro-ecology program for the GIZ agro-ecology project in Timor-Leste from 2014 onwards. He is an ongoing contributor for numerous course curricula and content for Permatil TL, international NGOs, and the University of Dili, Timor-Leste.

Ego is the founder of the youth permaculture movement to Timor-Leste – PermaYouth in Action and PermaKids, and of the Sustainable Agriculture Network and Organic Agriculture Movements. His awards and achievements include The Earth Hall of Fame Kyoto Award and the ‘Sergio Viera de Mello’ Human Rights Award, the Medal of Timor-Leste, and the 2023 Ramon Magsaysay awardee. Ego was also appointed as Timor-Leste’s – Special Envoy – Ambassador for Environment, Culture and the Arts in May 2023

SPEAKER 2: Lachlan McKenzie

Lachlan is Co-Founder/Director of Permatil Global and co-author of the original Permaculture Guidebook published in Timor-Leste in 2006 and 2008, and updated The Tropical Permaculture Guidebook – international edition, published in 2018. He wrote the Permaculture Facilitator’s Handbook with IDEP Foundation in 2007, and has also written numerous course curricula and content for NGOs, practical guides and magazine articles.

Lachlan has been teaching, writing and practising permaculture since 1994, working across diverse climates and audiences. His experience spans Timor-Leste, Indonesia, the UK, France, Portugal, and Australia, where he collaborates with farmers, community leaders, NGOs, schools, universities, community gardens, and national and international networks.

SPEAKER 3: Izu Pereira, PermaYouth TL Director

Facilitator: Lyn Jenkin

Lyn is a Co-Founder/Director of Permatil Global and Managing Director of Disruptive Media with more than 25 years’ experience working in design, strategic planning, social-impact communications and cause-related marketing.

With her work across sectors including education, community, environment, food and water security, healthcare, government and social enterprise, Lyn has a deep understanding of how to provide strategic communications for the civil-society/community sectors. This includes over 20 years working to support NGO project initiatives, across both Australia and Timor-Leste. She was responsible for overseeing the design and production of the international edition of The Tropical Permaculture Guidebook.

ORGANISERS

Permatil Timor - Leste

Permatil (Permaculture Timor-Leste), founded in 2000, focuses on empowering communities to restore their environment through permaculture techniques that enhance agriculture, water conservation and livelihoods. Addressing malnutrition and subsistence farming, Permatil trains hundreds annually in organic farming, reforestation, and sustainable land management. Their youth programs, including PermaYouth in Action, impact over 41,500 students by integrating permaculture into the national curriculum. Globally, Permatil’s Tropical Permaculture Guidebook has reached over 160 countries. Through water restoration projects like "Planting Water, Growing Communities," over 500 communities now benefit from improved water access, resilience, and equality, particularly for women and people with disabilities.

Permatil Global

Permatil Global, a not-for-profit organisation established in Australia in 2020, was born from the success of The Tropical Permaculture Guidebook (international edition) launched in 2018. The organisation was created to expand the global impact of permaculture, with a focus on supporting Permatil TL (Timor-Leste) and improving environmental resilience worldwide. Permatil Global continues to build networks, provide environmental education, and strengthen food and water security for sustainable communities globally.

More information about its model and impact is available here

Permaculture Association

The Permaculture Association (UK), is a nonprofit organisation dedicated to promoting permaculture principles and practices across the United Kingdom. Established in 1983, the association works to foster sustainable living and environmental stewardship through education, community engagement and advocacy.

This event is part of one of the association’s projects aiming to support international permaculture communities.

University of Münster

Prof. Dr. Thomas Stodulka. Professor of Social and Cultural Anthropology, has been actively collaborating with Permatil and Permatil Global. His students will contribute by providing valuable support in areas such as video editing and other technical assistance for these webinars. Helping to further the impact of Permatil's projects and outreach efforts.