Bali Demolishes Forest-Area Villa Complex in Pejarakan After Three Warnings

Buleleng — — The provincial government has demolished a villa complex in Pejarakan Village, Gerokgak, Buleleng, saying the permanent buildings violated forest-use rules and lacked required spatial and forestry business permits.

According to local authorities, the demolition took place on Saturday, 12 September 2026, in a limited production forest area (Hutan Produksi Terbatas, HPT) at Banjar Dinas Goris Kemiri, Pejarakan Village.

Governor Wayan Koster led the operation, which targeted several concrete villa structures built in a social forest area managed under village forest rights. The Bali Times reported that the site falls under Pejarakan Village Forest Management Rights (HPHD), while local village information identifies the area as part of a social forest scheme managed by the LPHD Wana Makmur Pejarakan.

Officials said the development did not have a Spatial Utilisation Activity Conformity document (Kesesuaian Kegiatan Pemanfaatan Ruang, KKPR) or the required business permits for activities in forest areas. The buildings were also described as incompatible with the designated forest function for social forestry and nature-based tourism.

Permit status and enforcement

Local reports identify the main villa owner as Ketut Danu. Provincial enforcement officers said the owner had received three written warnings from the government before demolition. The warnings reportedly called for voluntary demolition and completion of permits, which were not carried out.

The enforcement team from the provincial Public Order Agency (Satpol PP Bali) carried out the demolition based on a written order from the governor dated 9 September 2026, according to regional media citing Satpol PP officials. The order authorised the removal of the buildings after they were found to stand without KKPR, without forestry business permits, and in violation of the HPT zoning and the ministerial decree granting village forest management rights.

Governor Koster stated that permanent concrete structures are not allowed in the social forest area because they conflict with the agreed use of the forest, including provisions in the Minister of Environment and Forestry Decree SK.3583/MENLHK-PSKL/PKPS/PSL.0/6/2020 on village forest management rights (HPHD) for LPHD Wana Makmur Pejarakan. He warned that investors and local managers should not “play games” with forest land and must follow the agreed social forestry plans.

Regional media reported that three villa units and related facilities were slated for demolition, with works expected to be completed within three to four days.

Restoration and follow-up

After the demolition, Governor Koster assigned the provincial Forestry and Environment Agency, including its North Bali technical unit, to rehabilitate the site so it functions again as forest land. Officials said the plan includes reforestation through tree planting and restoring the area in line with social forestry management plans.

Satpol PP Bali said the villa complex would be dismantled until the structures were levelled with the ground, and that the site would be secured during rehabilitation to prevent further unauthorised construction.

In comments reported by regional outlets, Koster linked the enforcement action to wider efforts to tighten control over social forest areas and to ensure that tourism and accommodation projects comply with spatial planning, building and forestry regulations. Regional coverage has not specified how many other forest-area properties are under active investigation or how many additional demolitions may follow.

Context

Local media described the Pejarakan site as a social forest area managed by LPHD Wana Makmur under village forest rights, where community-based forestry and nature tourism are permitted under agreed management plans. The villa project was reported to be absent from the social forestry management plan and to lack core permits including KKPR, Persetujuan Bangunan Gedung (PBG, building approval) and forestry business licences.

According to outlets reporting from the site, the sequence of events was: three government warnings; continued non-compliance with permit and demolition requirements; issuance of a governor’s order dated 9 September 2026; on-site reading of the order; and demolition of the villa complex on 12 September 2026. Provincial forestry officials then took responsibility for rehabilitation and reforestation of the affected area.

Sources

• Bali Post
• RRI Singaraja
• Tribun-Bali (Bali/Buleleng desk)
• Pejarakan Village Government (official site)
• NusaBali.com
• Bisnis.com Bali
• The Bali Times