DENPASAR — The Bali Provincial Government, in collaboration with all regencies and cities across the island, will organize a large-scale environmental campaign titled Gotong Royong Semesta Berencana on Saturday and Sunday (25–26 October 2025). The initiative coincides with Rahina Tumpek Wariga, a sacred Balinese day dedicated to honoring plants as sources of life.
Governor of Bali Wayan Koster announced that the campaign will be carried out both sekala (physically) and niskala (spiritually). The spiritual ceremony will take place at Pura Pengubengan Besakih on Saturday (25/10) at 8:00 a.m. WITA, beginning with prayers followed by a symbolic tree-planting ritual within the temple grounds. Similar ceremonies will also be held at temples designated by local leaders in each regency and city.
“On the sekala level, the program involves tree planting as an act of devotion to restore harmony between humans and nature. On Rahina Tumpek Wariga, it is time for humans to give back by planting trees, rather than only taking or harvesting from plants,” Governor Koster said at his residence on Wednesday (22/10).
The tree-planting activities will be accompanied by simultaneous river clean-up campaigns across all nine regencies and cities, extending to the village and traditional village (desa adat) levels. At the provincial level, the initiative will focus on three major river basins — Tukad Ayung, Tukad Badung, and Tukad Mati.
“In Jembrana, Buleleng, Karangasem, Klungkung, and Tabanan, the activities will focus on priority river basins, particularly in disaster-prone areas during the rainy season,” Koster added.
Preliminary data shows that the tree-planting program will involve 20,453 participants across 314.08 hectares, with 34,047 saplings planted. The selection includes 25 species chosen for their ecological, nutritional, and ceremonial significance, such as ylang-ylang (sandat), cempaka, durian, and banyan.
Meanwhile, the river clean-up effort will engage 27,189 participants in preparation for the upcoming rainy season (November 2025–February 2026), aiming to remove blockages that could trigger flooding.
Koster emphasized that the initiative will continue beyond October, becoming a regular monthly movement under the Gotong Royong Semesta Berencana program.
“This is a highly meaningful program, part of Bali’s 100-Year Vision, implemented through reforestation and environmental restoration. The land belongs to the people, and the people themselves will be its caretakers,” he concluded.*** (sandra gisela)
