UC Planners Target Economic and Environmental Issues in Indonesia

University of Cincinnati planning faculty spent part of summer 2000 on the Indonesian islands of Java and Bali working alongside local citizens and colleagues from Indonesian and Thai universities to promote sustainable development and resolve pressing environmental problems. Bali's beauty, traditional crafts and culture, and terraced rice farming on dramatic mountain slopes attract millions of tourists annually.

This tourism, while economically important, comes at an environmental and cultural price. For instance, the island of Pulau Serangan (Turtle Island) located in Bali's Benoa Bay was once an idealic tropical island. Now, most of it resembles nothing so much as an arid moonscape (see image below).

What happened? In hopes of building a resort there, a member of Indonesia's powerful elite bulldozed much of the island flat and then tripled its size with fill dirt. Development later stopped because of the Asian financial crisis and continues to be delayed due to liberalizing changes in Indonesia's government that are allowing local citizens a voice in economic, environmental and other issues.

UC faculty members Chris Auffrey, associate professor of planning, Roger Barry, professor of planning, and David Edelman, director of UC's School of Planning, suggested ways that residents and officials can work together to make sure all voices are heard in deciding the fate of Turtle Island.

Similarly, the UC professors met with Balinese rice farmers (below) whose fields are threatened by a proposed highway. As plans have moved forward for the highway, the farmers seek ways that they can voice their opinions and concerns.

Other challenges abound. For instance, even Denpasar, Bali's largest city with a population of about one million, has no sewage treatment facilities. In general, tourists -- though not the local citizens working in the tourist-dependent economy -- are protected from the dangerous environmental and health consequences because many hotels operate their own private treatment facilities. Even so, contamination in the bay and on nearby beaches sometimes exceeds safe levels.

Bali's traditional batik designs are popular with tourists and with retailers throughout the world. The designs are created by first creating a wax pattern on cloth. The cloth is then hand dipped in steaming vat of dye. The wax is removed. Where the wax covered the cloth, it remains undyed and retains its natural color while the rest of the cloth absorbs the dye.

The chemicals are inhaled by the dye worker. In addition, any unused dye is simply dumped into the nearest stream. UC's Chris Auffrey recalled, "One day, you would go by and the creek would be bright purple. The next day, it would be bright orange. It's extremely polluting and kills all life in and around the streams."

Tourism also adds to congestion and trash problems in Indonesia. Bali has limited means of disposing of solid or liquid waste so trash is commonly burned, releasing toxins into the air. In addition, Denpasar's overflowing landfill leaches into Benoa Bay.

How bad is the air? Auffrey says it's impossible to tell as Bali only tests its air quailty once a year. Local officials don't have sufficient funds to test more often.

Indonesians are working to change these realities and are "really excited right now," says Auffrey, because, for the first time in decades, citizens and local municipalities are gaining a voice due to changes in the government. They have a saying in Bali now: "Tourism for Bali Not Bali for Tourism."