Bali, one of Indonesia’s leading tourist destinations, was struck by severe flash floods on 10 September 2025 after several days of continuous heavy rainfall.
The disaster inundated thousands of homes, damaged public infrastructure and resulted in significant casualties.
According to data from the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), at least 17 people were killed across Denpasar, Badung, Gianyar and Jembrana. Thousands of residents were displaced, while material losses have been estimated to reach billions of rupiah.
Although the floods were triggered by extreme rainfall linked to climate change, experts and environmental groups have highlighted another major underlying issue, which is the rapid conversion of green spaces into built-up areas.
Rice fields, forests and water catchment zones across the island have increasingly been transformed into residential areas, hotels, shopping centres and highways, significantly reducing Bali’s natural water absorption capacity and heightening flood risks.
Land conversion refers to the change in the use of land from its original ecological or agricultural purpose to an alternative function, such as residential, commercial, or industrial development.
Governor to Introduce Regulation on Land Conversion
In response to the flooding, Bali Governor Wayan Koster announced plans to draft a new regional regulation to restrict land conversion.
He said the regulation was being prepared following directives from the Ministry of Environment, which views land conversion as a major contributor to flooding.
Koster explained that the new policy would align with the Bali 100-Year Development Plan for the New Era.
“Starting this year (the ban on land conversion) in accordance with Bali’s 100-year development plan, from 2025 onwards, there will be no more conversion of productive land into commercial facilities,” Koster said in Denpasar on Sunday, as reported by ANTARA.
He added that under the proposal, only landowners would be permitted to build on their land, and only for private residential use, not for commercial purposes.
Environment Minister Urge Halt to Land Conversion in Bali
Environment Minister Hanif Faisol Nurofiq said one of the reasons Bali was unable to withstand the high intensity of rainfall that led to severe flooding was the lack of forest cover in upstream watershed areas.
He explained that the absence of vegetation in these critical zones weakened the island’s resilience to heavy rain, making flash floods more likely. Hanif added that he had spoken directly with the Governor about the issue, stating that he really hoped that the Governor would immediately stop land conversion in Bali.
He stressed that this move would also serve to protect Bali’s tourism industry, which has been under global scrutiny following the disaster.
He also noted that existing buildings should be managed by local authorities and adjusted to strengthen Bali’s environmental resilience.
