BALINEWSID.COM, BADUNG – Bali Governor Wayan Koster joined Indonesia’s Deputy Attorney General for Intelligence, Prof. Reda Manthovani, and officials from the Bali High Prosecutor’s Office in planting mangroves at Taman Hutan Raya (Tahura) Tanjung Benoa, South Kuta, Badung, on Saturday morning.

The event was also attended by Badung Regent I Wayan Adi Arnawa, Denpasar Mayor IGN Jaya Negara, and members of Bali’s regional leadership forum.

In his remarks, Koster stressed the importance of mangroves as a natural shield to protect Bali’s ecosystem while strengthening the island’s competitiveness as a world tourism destination. He said Bali’s green space coverage currently stands at around 20 percent.

The Bali Provincial Government is targeting an increase in green space to at least 30 percent, with an ambitious goal of reaching 35 percent within the next four years.

“Bali not only needs a healthy ecosystem, but as a global tourist destination, environmental issues are highly sensitive to tourism sustainability,” Koster said.

He added that greening programs in Bali are not merely environmental initiatives, but also part of the island’s local wisdom values known as Sad Kerthi, particularly Wana Kerthi, which emphasizes honoring plant life.

According to Koster, mangroves play a strategic role in producing oxygen, absorbing carbon, providing food sources, strengthening soil structure, and protecting coastal areas from abrasion.

He said Bali currently has around 1,200 hectares of mangrove forest in the Denpasar area and surrounding regions, with larger coverage when combined with Buleleng and Jembrana regencies. However, he noted that more mangrove areas are still needed to slow coastal erosion.

“Bali’s land area continues to shrink due to abrasion. Many lands are left only on paper certificates. Mangroves are an important solution to expand and preserve land,” he said.

The event also featured the release of dozens of birds, including bulbuls, egrets, and herons, as part of ecosystem restoration efforts.

Meanwhile, Reda Manthovani praised the unity of Bali’s government and communities in protecting the environment under Koster’s leadership.

“Planting mangroves is not only about restoring nature, but also about building character. What we do today will remain in our memory and encourage us to keep protecting the environment,” he said.

During the event, 2,000 Rhizophora mangrove seedlings were symbolically handed over to Bali-based environmental groups, including Mangrove Care Forum, Simbar Segara, and Mangrove Ranger. Of the total, 200 seedlings were planted directly by participants.

Koster expressed hope that the mangrove planting movement initiated by the Bali High Prosecutor’s Office would be followed by government agencies and private institutions to accelerate Bali’s green space targets.

“This is not only about the environment, but also Bali’s future. A healthy ecosystem will directly enhance the image of our tourism,” he concluded.