Bali has just faced one of its heaviest downpours in years, leaving villages, roads, and businesses underwater. While extreme weather events are not new to the island, the September 2025 floods were made far worse by human choices. Experts and observers point to over-construction, rapid urban development, and shrinking green spaces as major factors that aggravated the disaster.
Beyond the immediate damage, the floods have reignited the debate around how Bali balances its booming tourism-driven economy with the preservation of its fragile ecosystems. As rice fields, wetlands, and permeable land give way to concrete, the island’s natural ability to absorb water diminishes. The result is an increased risk of flash floods, soil erosion, and long-term harm to both communities and culture.
What Went Wrong — And What Made It Worse
Meteorological data confirmed that Bali was struck by unusually heavy rainfall in September 2025. But natural rain alone does not explain the scale of the flooding. Over the past two decades, thousands of hectares of rice paddies and green zones have been converted into hotels, villas, and supporting infrastructure. These lands once functioned as natural sponges, absorbing rainfall and regulating water flow. Without them, water collects on hardened surfaces and overwhelms drainage systems.
Loss of Permeable Land and Green Spaces
Each year, Bali loses an estimated 2,000 hectares of agricultural land to construction. This isn’t just a cultural loss—it also undermines environmental resilience. Wetlands, forests, and rice paddies play a critical role in preventing floods by absorbing excess rainwater. As these areas are built over, the island’s vulnerability increases. The floods of 2025 exposed how years of prioritizing short-term development over long-term sustainability can have devastating consequences. This is no “bad luck” that the areas most affected by flooding are concentrated in the south, which is also where the construction pressure on land has been the worst.
Overtourism and Development Pressures
Tourism is the backbone of Bali’s economy, but its rapid growth has fueled relentless construction, especially in the southern regions of Canggu, Kuta, and Uluwatu,where selling coconuts and smoothie bowls has more focus than land preservation.Calls for a moratorium on new developments have repeatedly surfaced, yet enforcement remains inconsistent. Local leaders and environmental experts have warned for years that unchecked development would make disasters like these floods inevitable. The latest events now stand as painful confirmation of those warnings.
The Official Narrative vs. Deeper Causes
In response to the recent floods, Bali’s governor Wayan Koster pointed to trash as a leading cause, noting how plastic waste and blocked drainage worsen water flow during heavy rains. This is certainly true, and waste management remains a major challenge across the island. Yet his comments placed far less emphasis on another critical factor: the rapid pace of construction and the steady loss of natural absorption areas.
By minimizing the role of overdevelopment, the narrative risks overlooking the structural issues that make Bali increasingly vulnerable to extreme weather. Trash can and should be addressed, but without confronting the deeper problem of unchecked building, the cycle of flooding is likely to repeat with greater intensity in the years ahead.
Kaltimber’s Commitment to Responsible Construction
As a reclaimed wood supplier, Kaltimber is deeply aware of our indirect role within the construction industry. While we do not decide how much or where projects are built, we acknowledge that materials—even sustainable ones—become part of the larger system. Our responsibility is to ensure that no new trees are cut for our products and to advocate for construction practices that respect both the environment and Bali’s cultural heritage. By promoting renovation, restoration, and the use of reclaimed wood, we aim to support building methods that reduce environmental impact rather than intensify it.
Moving Forward With Mindful Development
The deadly September floods are a reminder that Bali cannot afford to ignore the consequences of over-construction and overtourism. Protecting remaining green spaces, enforcing zoning regulations, and prioritizing sustainability in development are urgent steps. Companies, policymakers, and communities must work together to balance growth with preservation. At Kaltimber, we remain committed to offering materials that align with this vision, while encouraging thoughtful choices that safeguard the island for generations to come.
