BALINEWSID.COM, DENPASAR – Bali Governor Wayan Koster has vowed to immediately summon PT Bali Turtle Island Development to clarify the company’s commitment to replace 22 hectares of mangrove forest affected by its development project.

Koster made the statement during a public discussion titled “Koster Menjawab: Menelisik Masa Depan Bali di Tengah Ancaman Krisis Lingkungan” organized by the Student Executive Board of Warmadewa University on Friday.

“I will immediately call BTID to clarify their commitment to replace the 22 hectares of mangrove area,” Koster said.

He explained that licensing issues in the mangrove area originated under previous administrations. According to him, several permits were issued in the mangrove zone around 1995, including those linked to BTID’s project.

However, Koster stressed that the current Bali provincial government has taken a firm stance on protecting mangrove forests and productive land.

Under Regional Regulation No. 4 of 2026 concerning the conversion of productive land and the prohibition of nominee land ownership transfers, the Bali administration has banned the issuance of permits in mangrove areas as well as the conversion of productive land.

“Not only mangroves, even productive land cannot be converted. From now on, my position is non-negotiable regarding land conversion control, forests, and especially mangroves,” he said.

Koster added that mangroves have vital ecological functions that cannot be replaced by other types of vegetation. For that reason, protecting mangrove areas has become a top priority for the provincial government.

“I will not step back. Mangroves must be defended together,” he added.

Besides monitoring permits, the Bali administration is continuing environmental rehabilitation programs through regular monthly mangrove planting.

Currently, Bali’s forest coverage is estimated at only around 23 percent, still below the minimum requirement of 30 percent. The government aims to raise forest coverage to that minimum level within the next five years.

Earlier, the Special Committee on Spatial Planning and Public Assets (TRAP) of the Bali Regional House of Representatives decided to temporarily halt development activities in the Marina and Tahura Ngurah Rai areas carried out by BTID.

The committee made the decision after finding alleged discrepancies between administrative documents and actual field conditions.

During inspections in Karangasem and Jembrana, the committee also found issues regarding the legality of replacement land. Out of the company’s total obligation to provide around 44 hectares of replacement land, BTID has so far presented only 15 land ownership certificates covering approximately 18.2 hectares.