BALINEWID.COM, DENPASAR — The Bali Regional House of Representatives (DPRD Bali), through its Special Committee on Spatial Planning, Regional Assets, and Licensing (Pansus TRAP), has issued a strong warning over alleged land reclamation and the issuance of ownership certificates (SHM) within the Tahura Ngurah Rai mangrove area.

The issue, raised during a public hearing on Monday (May 11, 2026), is seen as more than an administrative dispute, with lawmakers warning it poses a serious threat to the sustainability of South Bali’s ecosystem.

The hearing focused on suspected land-use changes linked to the activities of PT Bali Turtle Island Development in the Serangan area and Benoa Bay.

Chairman of Pansus TRAP, I Made Supartha, stressed that the Tahura Ngurah Rai mangrove forest holds a legal status as a conservation area and must not be treated as a regular investment zone. He noted that the area has been designated as protected since the colonial era and is reinforced by multiple regulations covering forestry, spatial planning, coastal management, and environmental protection.

“When a conservation area begins to be filled, reclaimed, and transformed into commercial space, it constitutes violations of environmental, forestry, and spatial planning laws,” Supartha said.

The committee also highlighted a troubling pattern where on-site activities appear to precede legal authorization, with reclamation and physical development allegedly occurring while the land was still classified as state forest.

In addition, lawmakers pointed to irregularities in forest land swap processes, including weak oversight of replacement land obligations, suspected administrative malpractice in area verification, and the unresolved occupation of land by hundreds of residents without formal settlement.

Another major concern is the issuance of 106 land ownership certificates reportedly located within the mangrove forest and conservation zone. Supartha said the situation reflects serious flaws in spatial governance and state supervision.

“If a conservation area can be converted into private ownership and used for industrial activities, then there is a major problem in the oversight system,” he added.

The committee warned that the alleged land conversion could violate multiple laws, including those governing forestry, spatial planning, environmental protection, and coastal conservation.

As a critical ecological buffer for South Bali, the Tahura Ngurah Rai mangrove ecosystem plays a vital role in preventing coastal abrasion, mitigating tidal flooding, absorbing blue carbon, and maintaining biodiversity and the hydrological system of the Benoa Bay area.

Lawmakers cautioned that damage to the area could trigger wider environmental impacts, including coastal flooding, marine sedimentation, coral reef degradation, and potential risks to strategic infrastructure such as I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport.

In this context, the DPRD emphasized that the designation of Special Economic Zones (KEK) cannot be used to bypass legal obligations.

“KEK is not a law-free zone. All activities must comply with forestry, environmental, spatial planning, and coastal protection regulations,” Supartha asserted.

The committee also underscored the strategic role of local government in supervising the use of marine space up to 12 nautical miles, calling for cross-sector coordination in all coastal development and reclamation activities.

DPRD Bali concluded that the mangrove dispute is not merely about investment, but about the island’s ecological future.

“The ecological losses will far outweigh short-term economic gains if coastal areas continue to lose their natural functions,” Supartha said