About 70 legislative candidates -- out of 175 invitees -- were briefed on various environmental issues in an educational session organized by the Center for Environmental Management and held at the Bali governor's office in Renon, Denpasar, on Tuesday.

The center is a state-run institution tasked with overseeing environmental issues in Bali and East and West Nusa Tenggara.

"The impact of the damage caused to the environment is far greater than the impact of the rehabilitation efforts," State Minister for the Environment Rachmat Witoelar said in a speech read out by ministry employee Henry Bastaman.

"In the future, it is believed that the sources of conflict will shift from struggle over power or ideology to competition for natural resources."

In the speech, the minister said that in such conflicts the weak tended to be the victims, meaning environmental problems had to be addressed through democratic means and methods, with which the future members of the island's legislatures should be familiar.

Public resistance toward several development projects reflected the increasing public awareness of -- and concern about -- the threats to Bali's environment, the minister argued.

"Legislative candidates who have a clear vision on environmental issues will play a vital role in the conservation of the environment," he said.

He urged candidates to be more rigorous in reviewing proposed projects and environmental analyses submitted by developers.

The head of Bali's environmental body, Gede Putu Wardana, pointed out several major environmental problems the island is facing, the first being damage to its forests and water catchment areas.

Forest covers 28 percent, or 130,000 hectares, of the island. The ideal proportion is 38 percent, he said.

"Of the existing forest, 40 percent has suffered damage," he added.

Another problem is the pollution of water sources and the decreasing flow of rivers and lakes because of the expansion of construction projects, especially the development of new housing complexes, Wardana said.

Also under pressure, he added, are urban areas, which are facing air pollution problems because of the increasing number of motor vehicles.

One candidate at the briefing, Ni Ketut Suciwati, said environmental issues were not yet on candidates' political radars.

She hinted that candidates had a low awareness of environmental issues, with almost all involved in activities that damage the environment.

"They nailed their campaign banners, flyers and the flags of their political parties onto the trees that line our streets," she said.

The center plans to hold another briefing in the future.

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