Indonesia and UNDP Launch 'Sungai Lestari' River Program in Bali to Cut Plastic Waste Flowing to the Sea

Indonesia's Coordinating Ministry for Food Affairs, together with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), has launched the 'Partnership for Preventing Riverine Plastic Pollution,' known as the Sungai Lestari (Sustainable Rivers) Program, in Bali as of October 17, 2026. The initiative is supported by Clean Rivers, a foundation backed by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) that works at the intersection of water and waste issues.

The launch began with a mangrove cleanup activity, underscoring the link between land-based waste management, the health of coastal ecosystems, and Bali's long-term sustainability. As one of the world's leading tourism destinations, Bali depends on healthy marine environments not only for biodiversity but also for the livelihoods of coastal communities and the resilience of its tourism economy.

Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs Zulkifli Hasan said the conservation effort is vital to protecting Indonesia's vast 'blue carbon' assets — 3.46 million hectares of mangroves and 660,000 hectares of seagrass meadows. He noted that waste such as plastic and cloth, and especially paper, is slow to decompose and hinders root growth, disrupting surrounding ecosystems. Rivers serve as breeding grounds for aquatic life such as shrimp, crabs, and fish, which die off when pollution is high.

In Bali, the government continues to push investment in waste processing, including plans for a waste-to-energy facility in Denpasar. The Sungai Lestari Program complements these efforts by strengthening waste reduction, sorting, and collection of unmanaged river waste, as well as recycling before waste reaches final disposal sites.

Sara Ferrer Olivella, UNDP Indonesia's Resident Representative, said Bali's natural beauty — from rivers and mangroves to coastal waters — is central to the island's identity, the wellbeing of its people, and its fast-growing tourism economy, adding that better waste management could also create new livelihoods for local communities and waste workers.