Enviro News Asia, Jakarta – The recent floods affecting various regions, particularly in Greater Jakarta (Jabodetabek), serve as a reminder of the importance of maintaining ecosystem balance, especially in forested upstream areas of river basins (DAS).
The Ministry of Forestry has taken firm action to protect forests and restore watersheds to prevent further impacts of uncontrolled land conversion.
In a media briefing in Jakarta on Thursday (March 20, 2025), Director General of Forestry Law Enforcement (Gakkum), Dwi Januanto Nugroho, revealed that land conversion in the upstream areas of the Ciliwung, Kali Bekasi, and Cisadane watersheds has worsened environmental conditions, increasing the risks of flooding and landslides. Areas that should serve as water catchment zones have been transformed into residential and commercial buildings.
As a concrete measure, the Ministry of Forestry, in collaboration with the Ministry of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/National Land Agency (ATR/BPN), has launched an operation to regulate forest areas and protect watersheds.
The operation was conducted from March 9–11, 2025, in Bogor Regency, covering the districts of Cisarua, Sentul, and Jonggol. A follow-up operation took place from March 17–19, 2025, along the Cisadane watershed.
The operation uncovered numerous unauthorized buildings within production forests, protected forests, and conservation areas. The joint task force has installed monitoring boards at 50 locations and summoned building owners and business operators suspected of violating regulations.
Januanto stressed that law enforcement must go hand in hand with efforts to restore forest functions to maintain ecosystem balance.
He also highlighted the importance of synergy between ministries and local governments in disaster mitigation programs. In upstream watershed areas, efforts should focus on forest rehabilitation and controlling land-use changes. In midstream areas, ecosystem restoration through reforestation and the construction of water retention ponds is essential. Meanwhile, in downstream areas, river dredging and mangrove planting should be prioritized.
Meanwhile, the Director General of Watershed Management and Forest Rehabilitation (PDASRH), Dyah Murtiningsih, explained that the primary cause of flooding is land-use conversion in protected areas, particularly in Other Utilization Areas (APL).
This conversion has reduced water absorption areas and increased surface runoff. Additionally, river narrowing, such as the Ciliwung River shrinking from 11 meters to only 3 meters, has worsened flooding conditions. Other aggravating factors include high sedimentation in the Kali Bekasi watershed and the lack of proper drainage and water absorption systems.
As a solution, the Ministry of Forestry will conduct forest and land rehabilitation through reforestation and the application of soil and water conservation techniques, including the construction of check dams and sediment control dams to regulate water flow and prevent sedimentation.
Furthermore, improving drainage systems in residential areas, constructing absorption wells, and reviewing spatial planning policies are necessary to ensure that steeply sloped areas maintain their protective function, even if they are classified as APL.
“This is a crucial moment for all stakeholders to work together in addressing hydrometeorological disasters and taking concrete steps moving forward,” Dyah concluded. **
