One of Bali’s most highly acclaimed hotels has just conducted a unique conservation initiative in partnership with the local community.
Bambu Indah, famous for its stunning bamboo architecture, treehouses, and sustainable tourism practices, has joined forces with local farmers to tackle pests, restore ecological balance, and maybe even create some birdwatching opportunities for locals and visitors alike.
Bambu Indag, the Owl Tower Bali Foundation, and the community of Bongkasa Village have come together to launch a conservation initiative set to support local farms and restore ecological balance.
This week, eight barn owls, also known as Tyto Alba owls, were released over the rice paddies of Bongkasa Village and Bambu Indah.
The owls were chosen because they are natural predators of rats and are considered effective at suppressing pest populations without chemicals. The owls are estimated to help restore balance across approximately 40 hectares of rice fields in and around Bongkasa Village, which has been affected by rat infestations in recent years, leading to reduced crop yields.
The Owl Tower Bali Foundation is a Bali-based NGO founded by Wayan Gede Wirawan, who is committed to conserving owls in their natural habitats amid rising cases of the bird being captured from the wild. Through the foundation’s work, Wirawan focuses on educating the public about conservation and preservation.
The release of the owls was a ceremonial affair, attended by Bambu Indah and Green School co-founder John Hardy, his son Orin Hardy, as well as local officials, leaders from the local subak, and students from Denpasar’s Udayana University who attended the event to learn about sustainable agricultural practices.
With local rice farmers already pushed to the brink with rising farming costs, losses due to pest infestations, crop damage, or crop disease can be devastating.
The owls will live completely freely, and it is hoped that they will stay within the range of the Bongkasa Village area. Barn owls are instantly recognizable with their ghostly white faces, and for those staying at Bambu Indah, Bongkasa Village, or even the wider Sayan area, it may soon be possible to spot them flying by night, or even hear that distinct high-pitched call.
Bambu Indah has been pioneering regenerative tourism in Bali for more than a decade. Regenerative tourism is tourism that aims to actively support the regeneration of ecosystems and landscapes, not simply sustain. From architecture and design, to the surrounding garden, paddies and natural pools, through to food, furnishings and cultural experiences, everything at Bambu Indah does is driven by a commitment to preserve and regenerate the environment.
As Bali’s biggest tourism resorts become ever more developed and as the island starts to reckon with the impacts of the rapid conversion of vast swathes of the agricultural and natural landscape into commercial development, it will become increasingly apparent that sustainable and regenerative tourism businesses are not only important but essential.
Hotels like Bambu Indah show that tourism can do far more good than harm and support the wider community and landscape while still ensuring world-class hospitality and luxury experiences for guests.
Bambu Indah offers overnight stays at their 24 freestanding houses, nests, and tents, as well as day-only visitor passes for those who want to experience the magic of the property for a shorter time.
Full-day and half-day passes can be reserved via the Bambu Indah website and start at IDR 1,029,000.
This week, sustainability and environmental protection have been hot topics in Bali as the island’s largest open landfill begins closing.
Suwung TPA has stopped accepting organic waste this month, and while there is hope that the site will be fully closed by the peak travel season, the question remains whether viable solutions to Bali’s ongoing waste management issues can be found in time.
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