Bali is known for its rice terraces and unique irrigation system for centuries. But now scarcity of water is threatening, because more and more tourists come. A Trump Hotel could worsen the situation.
Bali is often described as a holiday Paradise. Every year it attracts five million tourists to the Indonesian island. Inside volcanoes, whose slopes are covered by dense rain forest. The coast is lined with black sand beaches and coral reefs. But the most well-known paintings are marked by the lush green rice terraces.
For millennia, farmers are sticking to your irrigation system. In 2012, the so-called Subak landscapes, Balinese for “irrigation community” were included in the UNESCO list of world cultural heritage.
Read more: climate change is affecting the tourism
A tiny, hand-made dam regulates the water flow
I Wayan Gede Eka Sudiartha is a welder and part-time project Manager in the eco-village of Nyambu, in the district of Tabanan. He shows how farmers adjust every day small mud dams carefully. The water should be used as efficiently as possible and on all the terraces evenly distributed. So it is handled for more than a thousand years. A well thought-out System. Self-sowing and harvest is staggered in different places, the consumption of water to compensate.
But the tourism brings in this carefully calibrated principle of the balance. The tourism industry in Bali now consumes more than half of the groundwater.
And the latest project in Tabanan, threatens to exacerbate all this: The “Trump International Hotel & Tower Bali”, the official Name. The facility will offer luxurious villas, swimming Pools, and a huge Golf course.
The project Manager of Nyambu shows how the Ecovillage uses the old Subak System for irrigation of plants
Not to make amends
The project arose from a partnership between the hotel chain of the U.S. President and the Indonesian businessman Hary Tanoesoedibjo. The Locals, however, are not very fond of the plans. Because, among other things, the proposed Tower will be much taller than the most important Hindu temple of Bali – Pura Tanah Lot. The building is listed as a UNESCO world heritage site.
For the believers and that is not acceptable. On the island no building should be higher than 15 metres – the height of a coconut palm tree. And the Hotel should not extend over such a spiritual and Holy place, say the critics.
Read more: island of Bali on Saturday without a mobile Internet
Requests of the DW, whether the hotel chain Trump will continue despite the objections of the Locals and probably horrendem water consumption of the plans remained unanswered.
Scientists at the Polytechnic in Denpasar have calculated that Hotels, Resorts and the industry have taken their wells so much fresh water that is already salt water from the sea gets into the ground water. The damage caused by salinity, is for agriculture is irreversible. And that threatens the livelihood of many farmers – in addition to the loss of agricultural land.
“I wonder, what are we supposed to eat when all of our rice fields, villas to [tourist]?”, Sudiartha says. “Money we can’t eat. Concrete also is not.”
Komang Arya Ganaris is a program Manager of Bali Water Protection (BWP), a project of the Balinese non-governmental organisation, IDEP. He says that Bali had to use his resources sparingly.
“We are a tropical island,” says Ganaris. “How can it be that we have a water crisis? We have rather a Problem of water management. No one has controlled the use of groundwater.”
-
Indonesia, a country is sinkingWith wet shoes to class
Ankle high the water is to Wade through the students of Pantai Bahagia elementary school. So your school looks now, often, because, on the Indonesian island of Java, the high water is now part of everyday life. The sea level is rising because of climate change, at the same time storms are becoming more violent.
-
Indonesia, a country is sinkingLearn in the mud
Earlier the sea kilometers was far away, in the meantime, the tide rises nearly every day in the class room and behind a fine mud in addition to layer of moisture on the ground. Especially the places in the coastal area of Pantai Bahagia are not affected by Jakarta. Climate researchers from Jakarta to fear that the sea level could rise in the coming decades by up to 90 centimeters.
-
Indonesia, a country is sinkingWith Tricks by the floods
With the help of a Styrofoam Board the motorcycle of a woman is pulled over the completely flooded road in the fishing port of Jakarta, Muara Baru, – the metropolis of Jakarta is sinking in the floods, and Improvisation is a part of life. Meanwhile, about 40 percent of the city are already below sea level, estimates the environmental protection organization “Wetlands International”.
-
Indonesia, a country is sinkingIf the forests lack
A street vendor pushes his Snacks and drinks filled the landing place of Kali Adem port of Jakarta. One reason for the Floods, the gradual Disappearance of the mangrove forests that lined originally, the coasts of Indonesia and the flood in a natural way eindämmten.
-
Indonesia, a country is sinkingCelebration evening in the water
A woman in the village of Sriwulan watching TV, while the brown flood flooded your whole house. Electronic devices are placed on concrete blocks, otherwise, life for Many appears to go in a state of emergency.
-
Indonesia, a country is sinkingNot a normal Childhood
In the case of their neighbours in the village of Sriwulan the living room, sinking in the waves – which are also the electrical threat is near. The families of the fishermen persevere, often in the hope of better times. For a move the money. Many people are also put up in their home, occupying it for generations.
-
Indonesia, a country is sinkingArrange in the Inevitable
Younger residents often: in an Aquarium-Like student Sriwarsih sits in her house in the village of Bedono. Thanks to the plastic construction of at least some pieces of clothing may be the constant moisture poorly protected.
-
Indonesia, a country is sinkingHope is not enough
A man prays on the water-bathed grave of his brother in the port city of Semarang. The government is trying to flood not only there to overcome: Together with environmental organisations to plant on the coastal strip of mangrove trees, build dikes and try to resettle the people. But this is often not easy.
-
Indonesia, a country is sinkingWhy a Wall is not enough
In order to protect the coast, were built in the district of Jakarta concrete walls. Hydrologists do not fear, however, that the insulation alone is not sufficient. Because of the soil decreases, illegal Wells excavations in Jakarta to dry and hollow out the ground. That the tomb stop, seems unlikely, because not even the half of the city is supplied by public water lines.
-
Indonesia, a country is sinkingChildren can have fun in the danger zone
Flip-flops and into the water: These guys are splashing during the high tide at the port of Kali Adem in Jakarta. Experts suggest that Indonesia still has about a decade of time, in order to prevent a further decline in the coastal region. After that, will worsen the lives of millions of people.
Wells revive
Simple technologies could alleviate the Problem. BWP wants to build 136 “gravity-driven recovery wells” at strategic places of the island. It shafts are where the water downhill directly into the groundwater to replenish it. In the project, the University, Bali State Polytechnic has conducted research for three years.
The System has proven itself in Afghanistan, Bangladesh and India, and a pilot project in Denpasar already showing promising results. The local government supports the project with 100 million Indonesian rupiah (IDR) in the year, around 5700 euros. Enough to Finance two or three holes.
The project Bali-Finance far to BWP one Million dollars – a small price to pay compared to the huge sums of money, which implements the tourism industry every year. And alone the Trump Resort will cost a billion dollars.
Millions of tourists flock every year to Bali
However, the Indonesian government will not Finance the project without further evidence that it works, says Ganaris. Because of the time and water become scarce, BWP, therefore, now, Crowdfunding platforms, private donors, local communities and businesses.
Lilik Sudiajeng for the pilot project in Denpasar, responsible, writes in a project report that all new commercial construction projects, but should also be committed to private house owners, own create recovery wells.
Ganaris is already thinking one step further. He finds that the government should also levy tax on the use of water by businesses such as tourism. “The business of the company is huge. And we need equally large measures and strong policies,” he says.
Tourism in harmony with nature
Ib Putu Sunarbawa is the head of the Ökodorfes Nyambu. He says the tourism is out of control. If Bali is not a shooter, its unique landscape and biodiversity, will suffer not only the agriculture including. Also the natural beauty that attracts tourists to the island, was in danger.
This temple is only one of 67 in the Eco-village of Nyambu
But there are quite a few possibilities, the island and its inhabitants, without destroying the nature.
Nyambu is a traditional village with 3700 inhabitants, has opened its gates for visitors. So far, three tour guides lead tourists through the temples, houses and rice fields. You grant visitors insights into their lives and in their traditions. Close to and in harmony with nature.
To read more: Ecotourism in Costa Rica
“I would like to develop the environment and the village,” says Sunarbawa.
He wishes that the government offers, the number of tourists to Bali are limited and only “high-quality” experiences, such as in Nyambu. That’s where the money of the tourists supported the preservation of habitat for the abundant wildlife. In addition, it provides an additional income for the families who make their homes available for guests and a part of her life.
Watch the Video 02:23 live Now 02:23 Min. 
Share
Eco-tourism in Cambodia
Send Facebook Twitter google+ Tumblr VZ Mr. Wong Xing Newsvine Digg
Permalink https://p.dw.com/p/17tNQ
Eco-tourism in Cambodia
And water is an important part of the culture: The majority of the Balinese follow a unique Form of Hinduism, Agama Tirtha. It means “Religion of Holy water”. Farmers worship Dewi Sri, one of Bali’s important fertility goddess.
Maintenance for cash
On the question of whether you have a message for the US President, says Ni Wayan Sariati, one of the project managers of Nyambu: “Build your Hotel in America, and they don’t bother us.”
But tourism is by far the largest source of revenue in Bali. More than five million people visit the island every year.
In contrast, Ecotourism is rather modest: Nyambu, the first of 22 proposed eco-tourism villages in Bali, is home to only about 20 tourists per month.
Ketut Accumulated by the local tourism Association, visited Nyambu, in order to assess the potential of Ecotourism. He could not take in the name of his employer, but, he notes, is Bali’s priority on “economic growth, not conservation”.
-
The most precious ElementWater: The finite resource
About two-thirds of the earth is covered by water. Only a fraction – three percent – is fresh water. And of this already limited resource, more and more people to draw upon. Now, about two billion of them have no reliable access to drinking water.
-
The most precious ElementThe water is running out
A further two billion people live in areas suffering from water scarcity. Their number will increase in the coming years due to climate change. According to estimates, by 2050 three billion people in the neighborhoods will live with water scarcity.
-
The most precious ElementThe nature of use
To the United Nations for 25 years, every 22.March with the world water day the attention of. Every year, he is under a different Motto. This year, it is “Nature for Water”, i.e., solutions from nature for drought, Flooding, and pollution. For example, you could connect rivers to Floodplains, or wetlands to recover areas.
-
The most precious ElementWastewater as an alternative source
Another solution to waste water. Properly treated, it can be used again and again. This protects the environment and is efficient. Because instead of getting new water tap into sources that used a certain amount of water again. But the procedure is time-consuming and expensive. Only a few countries can afford the.
-
The most precious ElementWaste Of Resource Is Spent
Israel uses 90 percent of its wastewater, for example for agricultural irrigation. Most of the countries do not have the necessary infrastructure to use this resource. Worldwide, 80 percent of the waste water passes untreated to be back in nature and polluted the waters.
-
The most precious ElementLack of potable water
Well-treated wastewater could also help against another Problem: a lack of drinking water. Namibia and Singapore already use highly treated wastewater as drinking water. In many countries, but there are caveats. Too great was the fear of diseases, the water should be not been cleaned thoroughly enough.
-
The most precious ElementHazards in the bottle
People resort to bottled drinking water in bottles to drink instead of tap water. Pollutants there might be here. According to a recently published study bottles plastic residue might be from the packaging of the water are to be found in many mineral water.