Tourism drives Bali’s economy but harms its ecosystems. Forests shrink, wildlife changes behavior, and biodiversity declines due to habitat loss, pollution and wildlife trade. Coral reefs and forests show clear degradation. Responsible travel—eco‑lodges, low waste, less water use, avoiding wildlife exploitation—can reduce impact and support conservation.

Can the world's favourite beverage help protect the world's most valuable ecosystems? Coffee is one of the world's most traded agricultural commodities. Every day, more than two billion cups are consumed globally, supporting the livelihoods of over 125 million people and generating more than US$100 billion in global trade. Brazil, Vietnam, Colombia, Indonesia, and Ethiopia together produce the majority of the world's coffee, with global production reaching approximately 177.8

Bali’s rainforest holds unique species found nowhere else. Its biodiversity keeps forests regenerating, soils fertile and ecosystems resilient. Seed dispersers, pollinators and fungi are essential, yet habitat loss, wildlife trade and climate change threaten them. Protecting these species means protecting Bali’s future.

Mutualism is essential for rainforest resilience. Species like fig wasps, ants, mycorrhizal fungi and nectar‑feeding birds support plants through pollination, protection, nutrient exchange and seed dispersal. These partnerships shape biodiversity and help forests recover after disturbance.

Bamboo: Nature’s Fast-Growing Supergrass? How a remarkable grass can support soil recovery, landscape restoration, and sustainable livelihoods. When we think of bamboo, we often imagine pandas happily chewing on green sticks. But bamboo is much more interesting than that. It is not actually a tree. Surprise. Bamboo is a grass. Yes, really. The same plant family as the grass in your garden. Just… much bigger. Much, much bigger. Some bamboo species can grow over 20 metres tall.

Insects have shaped forests for millions of years. They pollinate plants, recycle nutrients and support birds, mammals and entire food webs. Yet their world is fading due to habitat loss, pesticides, climate change and pollution. As insects decline, ecosystems weaken. Through restoration work like Restore the Legacy, forests and their insect life can recover.

Plants are able to heat up thier reproductive organs to attract beetles. They do this coordinated between male and female plants and thus get beetles to bring pollen around for them.

Rhizobium are nitrogen‑fixing bacteria living in root nodules of legume plants. They convert atmospheric nitrogen into a form plants can use, enriching poor tropical soils and helping forests recover. These bacteria also support nature‑inclusive farming by reducing the need for synthetic fertilisers.

Climate change is not just about drought. In tropical regions like Indonesia, too much rain can also threaten agriculture, food security, and livelihoods, showing why resilience must be approached at the landscape level.

Healthy forests are essential for healthy coral reefs. When forests disappear, sediment, nutrients, and polluted runoff flow into the ocean, smothering corals and reducing water clarity. Reforestation stabilises soil, filters water, restores natural hydrology, and reduces nutrient overload — giving coral reefs the chance to recover. In Bali, restoring forests upland directly supports the reefs below.

Plants can produce chemicals we use for everything from medicinal purposes, to caffeine in our coffee. However, how plants have “discovered” how to make some of these chemicals separately from each other. How these plants may have done this, is that they can borrow genes ‘which are the plans to mak these chemicals’ from bacteria!

Our work at Restore the Legacy shows that mycorrhiza is essential for restoring healthy tropical forests in Bali and Borneo. In this article, we explain how these underground fungi improve soil health, boost tree growth, and strengthen ecosystem resilience.