(source:istockphoto.com)
Bali is severely affected by water scarcity. The island's water supplies have become limited due to the rapid increase in tourism and an increasing local population. Bali is a popular tourist destination that has experienced significant infrastructure development in the tourism sector. This infrastructure includes swimming pools, golf courses, hotels, and resorts which use a lot of water. Cole (2012) states that traditional villages have significantly lower water demands than tourism areas such as luxury hotels and resorts frequently using more water than the local community. An estimated 65% of the water is used for tourism-related purposes. A tourist consumes about 150-200 liters per day against 30-50 liters for a local.
https://exofoundation.org/bali-water-crisis/
The rapid growth in Bali's tourism has increased the pollution and waste production. Bali Island, which receives millions of tourists every year, suffers from insufficient waste management systems. It causes pollution and waste to be widespread and negatively impacts the island's beaches and water. The rubbish produced ranges from plastic bottles and bags to sewage and food waste, and a large portion of it gets disposed of incorrectly due to Bali's lack of waste disposal infrastructure. This pollution significantly negatively influences the environment, especially on coastal and marine ecosystems. Fish, turtles, and seabirds are among the marine animals suffering from ingesting and entangled in plastic garbage. The Bali Partnership Report (2020) notes that Bali generates 1.6 million tonnes of waste per year, of which 303,000 tonnes are plastic (19.6% of total waste), and around 33,000 tonnes of plastic is leaking into waterways from Bali every year (11% of total plastic waste). Besides that, the research shows that just 48% of Bali's trash is responsibly managed either through recycling or landfill. It highlights awareness of the weaknesses in the present waste management system. The remaining trash usually winds up in improper landfills, which are poorly managed and harm the environment.
https://www.balipartnership.org/en_gb/about/#tab-1623857025887-3
(source: ecomena.org)
Eco Tourism Bali is a social impact business that builds communities for sustainable tourism. This organization aims to develop sustainable tourism communities by producing verified and qualified sustainable accommodations and restaurants in Bali. Eco Tourism Bali ensures that businesses who participate follow environmentally friendly practices, such as reducing waste, using energy efficiently, and using organic products by developing strict standards for sustainability. By highlighting the companies and goods, it can help to protect Bali's natural resources and support the local economy.
Regenerative Bali is an initiative run by Eco Tourism Bali. The program's goal is to plant mangroves and restore coral reefs. They will plant 1000 mangroves in the Jimbaran Bay region as a commitment to Regenerative Bali. Mangrove forest protection offers additional ecological advantages and may assist nations in reaching their carbon emission reduction targets. The mangrove planting program is their contribution to treading the road to 0% Carbon Emission in 2050. In addition, they also conduct coral restoration planting as an annual program. It also as part of reaching 0% Carbon Emission in 2050.
Besides that, Bali participated in the 10th World Water Forum, the largest international meeting in the water sector located in Indonesia. The purpose of this event was to discuss and create strategies for sustainable water management by gathering experts around the world. As co-hosts of the Forum, the World Water Council and the Government of Indonesia have set up a list of goals and efforts to help achieve this goal. This compilation includes a range of water and sanitation-related projects, initiatives, and collaborations. It aims to ensure effective policymaking and long-term commitment to water solutions in alignment with the 10th World Water Forum Ministerial Declaration.
One of the strategies is Sustainable Lake Management. Indonesia plans to introduce a community-based initiative that combines integrated governance, landscape management, and local community involvement to restore lake ecosystems. In order to enhance biodiversity, climate resilience, and local livelihoods, the program will address sedimentation, pollution, and biodiversity loss. Other than that, Indonesia initiates the acceleration of water supply and wastewater services. In terms of water supply and significant improvements in residential wastewater service, the program will benefit up to three million household connections, and approximately 12 million people. Bali's involvement shows how proactive it is in addressing water scarcity and ensuring its water resources are managed sustainably, which is important for the local population and tourism sector.