DENPASAR, DEWATA.NEWS – The Bali Regional House of Representatives (DPRD Bali) has officially passed a draft regional regulation on controlling the conversion of productive land and banning nominee-based land ownership schemes into law. The new regulation prohibits the practice of land ownership through “name lending,” commonly used to bypass ownership restrictions.
The regulation was approved during a plenary session at the Bali Governor’s Office on Monday (December 29, 2025). According to Agung Bagus Tri Candra Arka, coordinator of the regulation’s drafting committee, the policy is intended to serve as a comprehensive guideline for controlling the conversion of productive agricultural land across Bali’s regencies and cities.
“This regulation is designed to guide the control of land-use conversion for food crops, horticulture, and plantation areas across Bali, where land degradation and declining carrying capacity have been recorded year after year,” Candra said.
He added that the regulation provides a strong legal framework to protect Bali’s environment in line with the island’s Sat Kerthi Loka Bali values, particularly the principle of Jagat Kerthi, which emphasizes environmental sustainability. The policy aims to preserve productive agricultural land from both conversion and nominee ownership practices.
“It also strengthens governance and community institutions in monitoring, controlling, and optimizing productive land use within the broader framework of sustainable development,” he said.
Meanwhile, Bali Governor Wayan Koster warned that ongoing land conversion has placed significant pressure on agricultural areas across the island. He said the continued transformation of farmland for commercial purposes poses a serious threat to Bali’s food security.
“If this continues unchecked, it won’t take 100 years for us to face serious food supply problems, and the subak irrigation system will become increasingly endangered. This would pose a major threat to our ability to ensure food availability for the people of Bali,” Koster said.
The newly enacted regulation is expected to become a key policy instrument in addressing land-use challenges amid rapid development, while reinforcing Bali’s commitment to environmental protection and long-term food security.