Bali Bamboo Forest

"Our commitment to the environment and the people of Bali is not just in message, but in action as well," – Kadek Gunarta, Festival Co-Founder and Cultural Liaison

ENVIRONMENT AND COMMUNITY

BaliSpirit Festival Joins NEW Bamboo Ecosystem Restoration Project

A NEW Green initiative in 2011 unites the BaliSpirit Festival with the East Bali Poverty Project (EBPP) and the Environmental Bamboo Foundation (EBF) to support reforestation and community development in the barren Desa Ban area of East Bali.

This region, located on the slopes of Mount Agung, has been laid to waste from decades of clear cutting and a volcanic eruption, which have come to wipe out the surrounding forest environment and create severe economic hardship for the local population.

Bamboo Reforestation

Specifically, this essential project provides resources and volunteer support for the planting of much needed bamboo trees to restore the forest canopy, revitalize the ecology, and bring relief to villagers who have had to cope with "one of the most devastated" arid regions in Indonesia, according to David Booth, founder of the EBPP.

Objective

The plan is to plant a 25-meter wide shelter belt of bamboo trees along the dry hillside to create enough shade and wind protection to restore the area's ecosystem, and recapture much needed moisture for other plants and wildlife to grow.

Why Bamboo?

Two of the strongest varieties of bamboo – Bamboo Tutul (Bambusa Maculata) and Bamboo Duri (Bambusa Blumeana) are known to be durable and drought-resistant enough to establish a shelter-belt in dry conditions. According to Arief Rabik, Coordinator of the EBF, the shelter belts are to be planted in phases. Bamboo trees are also fast-growing and tall.

How YOU can help?

You can support this initiative in the following ways:

• PURCHASE TICKETS – Every BaliSpirit Festival 2012 guest who purchases a Full Festival or VIP Pass will support the planting and maintenance of one bamboo tree. This includes a seedling's planting and 3-years of maintenance. Go here to buy your ticket now
• MAKE A DONATION – Festival Guests can also make private donations of 100,000 RP per bamboo seedling onsite at the Festival's venues.
• TAKE INITIATIVE – Visit the EBPP and EBP websites and find out how to get more involved.

For more details, read Devin Bramhall's article about the project published in Jakarta Post, or go here to read our press release or click here for our BaliSpirit Newsletter article.

For more information about our project partners, visit: www.eastbalipovertyproject.org or http://www.bamboocentral.org/index1.htm

Since its inception, the BaliSpirit Festival has raised over $55,000USD for Bali based not-for-profits such as the Bumi Sehat birthing clinic, the Ubud based "Say No! to Plastic Campaign" and the Festival's own "Ayo! Kita Bicara (Let's Talk About) HIV/AIDS teen awareness and educational outreach program.