When I ride around the highlands of Bali, I can see how it once was, uninterupted hills, stretching to the horizon, a canopy of nothing but green. I can also see where the forest ends and where the rice fields start. Rice fields are lovely, they are also a man made creation.
An article in Bali Discovery talks about the declining jungle in Bali. I don’t know the figures, but the last large patch of true jungle is up in the Mt. Batukaru area, in Tabanan. If you want to experience the jungle, get in touch with the folks at Eco Lodge, their place is up there. You can also hike to the top of Batukaru, camping in the jungle in tents.
The article talks about the careless and selfish use of jungle land, being partly to blame for erosion and soil fertility. I think education is a huge factor. People out here, will not face up to a problem, until the absolute last moment. Pollution and deforestation are part of the same mindset, that says, ‘I don’t see it, it doesn’t happen’. On three occasions recently, I have eating in a restaurant, and someone outside is burning plastic garbage. They probably don’t know that it spreads toxic waste everywhere, and anyway they can’t see it, so it doesn’t exist.
Come visit Bali’s last section of forest, its cool up there and still dry right now!
