Indonesia’s Environment Minister Hanif Faisol Nurofiq has ordered a comprehensive audit of four major rivers in Bali following the island’s worst flooding in a decade, which killed 18 people on September 10, 2025. The review will focus on the Ayung, Badung, Mati, and Unda rivers, all of which cross multiple districts and are considered high risk for severe flooding.
“All problems in these four rivers in Bali—Ayung, Tukad Badung, Tukad Mati, and Tukad Unda—will be audited because they cross districts and have the potential to cause major floods,” Hanif said during a tree-planting event at the Biodiversity Park in Denpasar (9/26/2025), as quoted by Detik.
Infrastructure and Waste Management
One of the minister’s main concerns is the condition of the Ayung River Basin, which spans around 122,000 acres (49,500 hectares). Only 3,700 acres (1,500 hectares) remain as forest cover, far below the recommended 30 percent minimum to maintain water absorption.
“At least 30 percent of the watershed should be covered by forest. Ideally, the percentage should be even higher, considering how densely populated the surrounding areas are,” Hanif explained.
He noted that reforestation efforts should take into account local culture and land use.
“It does not always have to be native forest trees. It could also be multi-species plantation trees that are highly productive and carry high economic value,” he added.
Beyond forest rehabilitation, the ministry is also preparing civil engineering measures to reduce flood risks, such as upgrading drainage systems and restoring river flow capacity. Hanif stressed that solid waste remains another urgent issue for Bali.
“Waste management is also a major problem here. Of course, we strongly support the Governor’s policy to address it,” he said.
Hanif acknowledged that the September floods were triggered by extreme rainfall, with precipitation across the island averaging 245 millimeters in a single day – equivalent to more than a month of rain falling in 24 hours. He linked the disaster to the growing impact of climate change and called on Bali residents to see it as a challenge that must be met with long-term solutions.
“This is not only about rehabilitation and reforestation, but also about building civil infrastructure to control water flow,” Hanif explained.
He added that coordination with other ministries will be essential, especially when urban river basins need adjustments in heavily built-up areas.
Strategic Environmental Review
According to Antara, the Environment Ministry is also collaborating with the Bali Provincial Government to update the island’s Strategic Environmental Assessment (Kajian Lingkungan Hidup Strategis). The new assessment will guide spatial planning and development decisions, ensuring that future investments consider environmental resilience.
“Detailed steps and in-depth studies are being prepared by the Bali Provincial Government with all districts and cities, in cooperation with the Ministry of Environment,” Hanif told reporters in Denpasar.
The minister emphasized that the findings will be incorporated into official development planning documents, a critical step for accountability.
“Every amount we spend—from the state budget, regional budget, or partner support—must be backed by a clear plan,” he said.
The minister reminded stakeholders that current measures are not just for immediate relief but also for future generations.
“The recent floods must be treated as a wake-up call. What we are building today is not just for recovery, but to secure Bali’s future for generations to come,” Hanif underscored.
Indonesia’s Environment Minister Hanif Faisol Nurofiq has ordered a comprehensive audit of four major rivers in Bali following the island’s worst flooding in a decade, which killed 18 people on September 10, 2025. The review will focus on the Ayung, Badung, Mati, and Unda rivers, all of which cross multiple districts and are considered high risk for severe flooding.
“All problems in these four rivers in Bali—Ayung, Tukad Badung, Tukad Mati, and Tukad Unda—will be audited because they cross districts and have the potential to cause major floods,” Hanif said during a tree-planting event at the Biodiversity Park in Denpasar (9/26/2025), as quoted by Detik.
Infrastructure and Waste Management
One of the minister’s main concerns is the condition of the Ayung River Basin, which spans around 122,000 acres (49,500 hectares). Only 3,700 acres (1,500 hectares) remain as forest cover, far below the recommended 30 percent minimum to maintain water absorption.
“At least 30 percent of the watershed should be covered by forest. Ideally, the percentage should be even higher, considering how densely populated the surrounding areas are,” Hanif explained.
He noted that reforestation efforts should take into account local culture and land use.
“It does not always have to be native forest trees. It could also be multi-species plantation trees that are highly productive and carry high economic value,” he added.
Beyond forest rehabilitation, the ministry is also preparing civil engineering measures to reduce flood risks, such as upgrading drainage systems and restoring river flow capacity. Hanif stressed that solid waste remains another urgent issue for Bali.
“Waste management is also a major problem here. Of course, we strongly support the Governor’s policy to address it,” he said.
Hanif acknowledged that the September floods were triggered by extreme rainfall, with precipitation across the island averaging 245 millimeters in a single day – equivalent to more than a month of rain falling in 24 hours. He linked the disaster to the growing impact of climate change and called on Bali residents to see it as a challenge that must be met with long-term solutions.
“This is not only about rehabilitation and reforestation, but also about building civil infrastructure to control water flow,” Hanif explained.
He added that coordination with other ministries will be essential, especially when urban river basins need adjustments in heavily built-up areas.
Strategic Environmental Review
According to Antara, the Environment Ministry is also collaborating with the Bali Provincial Government to update the island’s Strategic Environmental Assessment (Kajian Lingkungan Hidup Strategis). The new assessment will guide spatial planning and development decisions, ensuring that future investments consider environmental resilience.
“Detailed steps and in-depth studies are being prepared by the Bali Provincial Government with all districts and cities, in cooperation with the Ministry of Environment,” Hanif told reporters in Denpasar.
The minister emphasized that the findings will be incorporated into official development planning documents, a critical step for accountability.
“Every amount we spend—from the state budget, regional budget, or partner support—must be backed by a clear plan,” he said.
The minister reminded stakeholders that current measures are not just for immediate relief but also for future generations.
“The recent floods must be treated as a wake-up call. What we are building today is not just for recovery, but to secure Bali’s future for generations to come,” Hanif underscored.
Source: Detik, Antara
Special Photo Credit: ABC News