A Case Study: An Analysis of Social and

Environmental Implications of Benoa Bay Bali

Reclamation

A Case Study: An Analysis of Social and

Environmental Implications of Benoa Bay Bali
Reclamation

Adiska Octa Paramita

931015641010

ECS-65600 Scientific Writing Skills

Instructor: Curtis F. Barret, PhD

7 December, 2016
Wageningen University, Wageningen
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Abstract

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Summarize the most important results: What did you discover?
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Table of Contents

Abstract

iii

Introduction 1
1. The Development of Benoa Bay

1.1 The History of Benoa Bay Reclamation 4

1.2 Solutions by Environmentalists and Researchers
2. The Commodification of Benoa Bay 4
3. The Effects of Benoa Bay Reclamation

3.1. Negative Effects of Benoa Bay Reclamation 4

3.2. Positive Effects of Benoa Bay Reclamation
Conclusion

References 7
Appendices 8

Introduction
Millions of tourist come to Bali each year to enjoy the beaches, natural
beauty, hospitality of friendly locals, cultural and heritage of this island of Gods.
Referring to the image of Bali as one of the famous destination in Southeast Asia, it
has attracted many property investors to build different kind of structure to gain
profit for this opportunity. As we know that the pros and cons of the exploitation
always emerged to assess the problem in different perspectives. In economy
perspective, the development of certain area as tourism destination is always
positive to future economic structure but contradictory in social and environmental
point of view, which considering the negative effects of alteration of ecosystems in
touristic facilities in order to satisfy tourists needs. It is in with Holden (2016:81),
stated that economic progress did not come free of environmental cost. Through this
paper I would like to analyse an issue about the negative and positive impacts of
reclamation project in Benoa bay in Bali. There are several reason why I choose
Benoa Bay as my focus in this case study. First, the case of Benoa Bay has been
started since 2012 and still not yet coming to final decision by the government.
Second, the demonstration to reject this project still happening as the expression of
locals to reject this project. Third, the disaster of Serangan Island reclamation (also
located in Bali) is one example of disintegration of related stakeholder such as local
community, local government and the investors has led to the unavailing
development.
Based on these reasons, further analyses are needed to be done to have a
better understanding of how Benoa Bay reclamation impacts to the local
communities and environment for the long term effects. There are some points that
will be explored in this essay to answer issue. First, what is the story behind Benoa
Bay reclamation? This will be focus on the history from the beginning of this project
and the actors who are contributed and involved of commodification Benoa Bay.
Second, how impactful is the effect of Benoa Bay reclamation? Third, what are the
advantages of Benoa Bay reclamation to Bali tourism in general? Is it worth with the
result of environmental damage? The highlight of this project is regarding how
government deliberately changed regulations of Benoa bay utilization from
conservation to non-conservation area so that investor can start the reclamation
project. The concept of Benoa Reclamation Project has been approved by the
government by signing regulation removing the conservation status: rezoning
conservation area for public use. The main goal from governments perspective is to
make the gulf become multifunction, multi-use, and integrated tourism
development. The appraisal of this controversial plan need to be considered and
observed in multiple perspectives. Based on the desk research that I have
conducted, there are several reasons that support my argument to disagree with
Benoa Bay Reclamation Project.

Chapter I
The Development of Benoa Bay
1.1.

The History of Benoa Bay Reclamation

Fig. 1.1 The Benoa Reclamations Map (Source http://www.afr.com)

The heart of Bali attraction is surrounded around south Bali where the
reclamation project taken place. Benoa Bay is tidal waters of inter-district / town
which located between Denpasar and Badung. The strategic location of Benoa Bay
in the south of Kuta, Bali island, has attracted many investors to expand tourist
destination area in the centre of Bali. The development of south Bali has been
significantly acknowledged Bali as one of well-known tourist destination in the world,
this is encouraged Bali to provide the best of international standard facilities such as
international airport, five stars hotels, and other elite infrastructures. The
development planning of Benoa bay arise from the needs of tourism infrastructure
development due to the limited land in south Bali. The opportunity to gain profit in
the centre of Bali attraction is supported by presidential decree number 51/2014
which is revising previous presidential decree number 45/2011 (source: dw.com. In
the latest presidential decree, it is mentioned to eliminate Benoa Bay of marine
conservation. The debate of this central government regulation has emerged from
the Bali society and environmentalist. The government equivocated that the
condition of Benoa bay itself already destroyed by the sedimentation built by
estuary of five big rivers from all around Bali which carried mud and trashes to the
sea, these condition impacts to marine life and mangrove forests around Benoa Bay
to completely damaged. As a consequence, the central government revised the
regulation of Benoa bay as no longer conservation area but allocated it as
revitalization zone or non-conservation which also means it is able to be used for
public. Responding to the revised regulation, the environmentalist evaluates the
sedimentations are formed from natural process and the solution of this issue are
scooping out them from the estuary and well maintained trashes or rubbishes
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management instead of making artificial islands around Benoa bay from sediment
materials.

Fig. 1.2 Timeframe of Benoa Bay Development

The history of Benoa bay development was started from the highway
construction with 12,7 km length above the sea to connect Nusa Dua, Ngurah Rai
and Benoa in December 2011. In my opinion this is the beginning of polemic in
Benoa bay because the highway has open up the easiness access for private
transportation to reach Benoa bay. However, several environmental damages has
been reported such as destruction of marine life due to highway foundation, and
also the deforestation mangrove area in some part of Benoa bay. At the end of 2012,
after a year of new highway was launched, one of the biggest property investor in
Bali, PT Tirta Wahana Bali International (PT TWBI) proposed to Balis government to
have permission of reclamation project in Benoa bay. Balis governor, I Made Mangku
Pastika, has approved this project and released governor regulation number SK
2138/02-C/HK/2012 regarding the planning and developing Benoa bay area.
Furthermore, the released of presidential decree number 51/2014 has supported PT
TWBI not only from local government but also from central government to
strengthen the reasonable support for the reclamation of Benoa Bay. Although the
status of PT TWBI has been approved by the government, they still have to wait for
the environmental impact analysis result from ministry of environment and forestry
to execute this project.
1.2.

Solutions by Environmentalists and Researchers

While the alternative way to overcome this issue from environmentalists
investigation are as simple as scooping out all the sedimentations and trashes from
the bay and restore Benoa bay function as conservation area. Contradictory in
government perspective, the mega project of reclamation in a plot of 800 Ha of
Benoa bay is the best option to revitalise the function as well as to manage the
massive sedimentation around the bay. On the other side, WALHI, The Indonesian
environmental non-governmental organization, which is part of the Friends of the
Earth International (FoEI) network, was strongly refused the claim by the
government. WALHI concluded that the massive sedimentation problem can not be
proven. Apart from how severe sedimentation piled up in Benoa, the feasibility test
has been conducted by Udayana University, Bali. According to the result the

reclamation project is not feasible in four aspects: technic, environmental,

sociocultural, and financial economy. In my opinion the contradiction of
governments claim and what are the environmentalist has pointed out is because
different motives to develop Bali in general. Although the scholarly debate of Benoa
bay reclamation never coming to an end and has been rolling in the past five years. I
personally believe that the ministry of environment and forestry will approve this
project due to some facts that government regulation has indirectly approved the
reclamation and considering the potential economic benefit not only for Bali but also
for Indonesia in general.

Chapter II
The Commodification of Benoa Bay
Based on economical aspect, Benoa bay is located in a strategic position. The
term golden triangle economy Benoa Bali is addressed to the bay because it is
located in the middle of tourism-based economic growth, trade and services close to
Sanur, Kuta, and Nusa Dua. It is obvious that regulatory changes are part of
government effort to smooth over and accommodate reclamation plan in Benoa bay.
I believe the governments are fully aware the connection between commodification
ecotourism, in this context natural resources, and environmental damages is
indisputable. Stronza believes (2010:210) the main goal of ecotourism as a market
tool for integrating conservation and development, and for protecting natural
resources while also meeting human needs. However, commodification of natural
resources which has environmental impact for local communities is an evidence of
how the state forced people to obey the rules haphazardly over future human
welfare pretext. Considering the governments perspective to develop Benoa as one
of the best tourist attraction in Bali, the significant economical growth is expected.
In this globalization era, where there is no boundary to reach certain area, the aim
to attract tourist as many as possible has become a competition. The power relation
of government and investors are like symbiosis mutualism because of this mutual
benefit shared between ecotourism development and natural resource conservation.
As stated by Bianchi (2011:12), state has been integral to the restructuring of
property relations and the balance of power between private enterprise and public
ownership in tourism. The government, needs extra funding to develop a region
while investor trying to collect profit through long term investment. In the
meantime, in this period of waiting over the result of environmental impact analysis,
I would like to consider the optimistic framework in economical benefit of Benoa bay
reclamation project.
It is predicted that from 800 Ha area of Benoa bay reclamation, the local
government revenue of this reclamation is around Rp 10 billion a day. Reflecting to
this rough estimation, it will bring forward the industry of Bali tourism in economic
aspects. Several implication also being depicted such as jobs creation for local
people, increasing the awareness level of Bali as world class attraction, and
strengthen governance. The blueprint of Benoa has been launched, it is consisted of
16 new islands which has different function and attraction. Based on its concept it
integrates the authenticity of Balinese culture and modernity for example botanical
garden, eco park, eco resort, water and waste management area, green energy
development, and center of Balis cultural exhibition. Meanwhile, the condition of
current Benoa bay is heartbreaking, pollution happens on many levels, low water
quality, and garbage piling up everywhere. Through sustainable and careful
development which also considering the locals norm this might provide win-win
solution for all stakeholders. In my observation, although there are so many
environmentalist shout at the damage of Benoa reclamation project, the real actions
to improve and repair current situation in Benoa are never being projected.
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Chapter III
The Effects of Benoa Bay Reclamation
3.1. Negative Effects of Benoa Bay Reclamation
The rejection of Benoa bay reclamation project is disputed not only by the
environmentalist but also local communities in Bali are taking part. In the past few
years community alliances are expressing their refusal through demonstration, long
march, and propagate petition. The most strong reason behind this rejection is their
reflection to similar model project in Sarangan island, which is not far from Benoa
bay. Sarangan island project was made in 1998 and it turns out to be a disaster for
Balinese. The similarity of Serangan island and Benoa bay reclamation can be seen
from the initial master plan by the developer by filling up terrain for mass scale
tourism. Back to 1998, the developer started to dredging the island, the tidal
changed, the sand become disappeared, and the beach washed away. Reclamation
project in Sarangan island not only changed significantly the landscape and locals
life but also impacted to surrounding marine life such as climb downed turtle
population, mangrove and coral reefs. And based on the latest update, not even
single tourist visited Sarangan island due to the devastation caused by this project.
Current scenery in Serangan island is nothing but abandoned island without touristic
development and locals life activities. And it is obvious that reclamation in
Sarangan island has left some scars to the Balinese, they are trying to protect their
land under confined lines of developments through FORBALI.org. FORBALI is an
alliance of the people of Bali, made up of both organizations and individuals
including students, NGOs, artists, youth and those concerned with conserving Balis
environment and believe that the Reclamation of Benoa Bay is a step towards the
destruction of Bali. Reflecting to Sarangan case, it is depicted the disintegration of
economic benefits for local people and haphazard environment analysis in tourism
development. In fact, based on Stem, et al. (2002:388), Ecotourisms primary appeal
as a conservation and development tool is that it can, in theory, provide local
economic benefits while also maintaining ecological integrity through low-impact,
non-consumptive use of local resources.

Fig. 3 The protestors of Benoa Bay Reclamation Project (source:

http://www.thejakartapost.com/)

3.1. Positive Effects of Benoa Bay Reclamation

The justification of reclamation project can be pointed out while comparing to
some countries that has successfully did the reclamation project for instance
Singapore, Dubai, and Queensland in Australia. However, the main reason of tourists
motives to visit those countries are different. Tourists visit Bali to get the
authenticity of culture and the exotic heritage of Bali, which is incomparable. The
pro-reclamation movement, Forum Bersama Kita Satu Bali (FBKSB), also does exist,
although it never raised in press publication. In their point of view, the actors who
initiate Bali Rejects Reclamation are opponents of current Balis government. And
also, they stated there is strong indication of foreign interference to prevent
improvements in Bali. Of course these opinions are can not be proven because it is
based on someones or a group of peoples assumption. However, in my perspective
those idea are possible and make sense. Because how do the massive organization
funding itself while there are refusal agendas in every month throughout past five
years. Nevertheless, based on FBKSB testimony, they are fully aware the negative
impact of Benoa bay reclamation such as downgraded of water quality, landscape
changes, aquatic biota harassment, potential in flood and erosion as well. However
they stated that reclamation is the only way to recover current mess and damage of
piled up sedimentation and rubbish in Benoa bay. Through Green Development
concept, FBKSB claimed it will reduce the negative impacts and increase the
potential impact in economy development of Bali through tourism as revitalization
area.

Conclusion
Aside from the conflict of interest between two different groups, they have the
same vision to protect Bali but they see it through different lens. The main concern
is the Balinese or the local citizen of Benoa bay itself want the best for sustainable
tourism in Bali. The prominent question is: do Bali need to build new islands? In my
opinion, Bali does not need it, although the economic pillars of Bali hold on to the
tourism sectors, new islands are not something that fit into locals values and norms.
In the long term it will change the image of Bali as a modern island, and no longer
offering cultural wealth destination. To offer win-win solution for all stakeholders in
case the environmental impact analysis result the reclamation project is feasible,
there are some points that need to be taken into account first such as the
community based tourism and uphold green development concepts. According to
Boley and Green (2015:37), the potential for collaboration stems from the
ecotourism industrys dependence upon quality natural resources to attract tourists
and environmentalists increasing need to include the economic benefits of land
conservation within their sustainable rhetoric. Hence, it is compulsory to implement
long term analyses which beneficial for all stakeholders such as involvement of local
community in the economic activities.

References
Bianchi, R.V. (2011) Tourism, capitalism, and Marxist Political Economy, in J.
Mosedale (ed.), Political Economy of Tourism: A Critical Perspective, Abingdon:
Routledge, 17-37.
Boley, B. B., & Green, G. T. (2016). Ecotourism and natural resource conservation:
the potential for a sustainable symbiotic relationship. Journal of Ecotourism, 15(1),
36-50.
Holden, A. (2016). Environment and tourism. Routledge.
Stem, C. J., Lassoie, J. P., Lee, D. R., Deshler, D. D., & Schelhas, J. W. (2003).
Community participation in ecotourism benefits: The link to conservation practices
and perspectives. Society &Natural Resources, 16(5), 387-413.
Stronza, A. (2007). The economic promise of ecotourism for conservation. Journal of
Ecotourism, 6(3), 210-230.
Additional Internet Sources:
Kusumadewi, A. (2016, April 14). Melongok Pulau Serangan Proyek Reklamasi
Pertama di Bali. Retrieved October 2, 2016 from CNN Indonesia, website
http://www.cnnindonesia.com/
Mareza, B. (2016, May 3). Dari Dekat Mengenai Reklamasi. Retrieved 1 October,
2016 from CNN Indonesia, website http://student.cnnindonesia.com/
[Unattributed], (2016, August 25). Kisruh Dipulau Dewata Sebagian Warga Bali Tolak
Reklamasi Teluk Benoa. Retrieved October 1, 2016 from Deutsche Welle Indonesia,
website http://www.dw.com/en/
[Unattributed], (2016, Feb 27). Teluk Benoa Reklamasi dan Permainan Curang.
Retrieved October 2, 2016 from LEM FKT UGM Indonesia, website
http://lem.fkt.ugm.ac.id/
[Unattributed], (2014, August 13). Tolak Reklamasi Segera Batalkan Perpres 51
Tahun 2014. Retrieved October 2, 2016 from WALHI, website http://www.walhi.or.id/
[Unattributed], (2014, July 20). Mengapa Kami Menolak. Retrieved October 2, 2016
from FORBALI, website http://www.forbali.org/id/
PICTURE:
http://bagusandryan.com/bali-tolak-reklamasi-exposing-the-project-288/

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