Flooding has emerged as a severe environmental threat due to the ongoing degradation of Indonesia’s peatland ecosystems, with a newly launched study, Sinking Wetlands, by Pantau Gambut, sheds light on the alarming flood risks faced by Peat Hydrological Units (KHG) across three major regions − Sumatra, Kalimantan, and Papua.

Peatlands are naturally designed to retain water as part of their ecological function. However, when peatland ecosystems are degraded due to human activities such as excessive drainage and land conversion, they lose their capacity to absorb water effectively. This results in uncontrolled water runoff, which increases the risk of catastrophic flooding. 

“The floods occurring in these areas are not part of the natural hydrological cycle of peatland ecosystems. Instead, they are the direct consequence of extensive peatland degradation, primarily due to inappropriate land use,” Advocacy, Campaign, and Communication Manager at Pantau Gambut, Wahyu Perdana, said in a statement as quoted on Wednesday, March 12, 2025.

The study identifies several Indonesian provinces that are particularly vulnerable to flooding, especially those that have historically been affected by forest and land fires.

The three most flood-prone provinces include Central Kalimantan, West Kalimantan, and South Sumatra. In total, at least 25 percent of Indonesia’s Peat Hydrological Units are classified as highly vulnerable to flooding, 18 percent as moderately vulnerable, and 57 percent as low risk. This translates to approximately six million out of 24 million hectares of KHGs being at significant risk of severe flooding events.

Notably, peatland degradation does not only impact inland areas. The study highlights the alarming trend of significant land subsidence in coastal regions, where peatlands once served as a natural barrier against seawater intrusion. 

As these protective barriers erode, coastal communities are increasingly affected by tidal flooding (rob), and freshwater supplies are threatened as seawater infiltrates groundwater reserves. This phenomenon further exacerbates the water crisis in these regions, reducing access to clean water for both agricultural and household use.

Policy recommendations

To address these escalating threats, Pantau Gambut suggests three key policy measures for urgent implementation:

 1. Strengthening peatland protection regulations

• Incorporating flood-related technical variables into existing peatland ecosystem regulations.
• Refining Government Regulation No. 57/2016 and No. 71/2014 on Peatland Protection and Management to ensure that flood vulnerability assessments are integrated into policy frameworks.
• Aligning national peatland protection efforts with Indonesia’s global environmental commitments.

2. Integrating peatland hydrology management into financial regulations

• Establishing clear indicators for sustainable peatland water management.
• Ensuring that financial sector regulations enforce responsible investment practices in peatland areas to prevent further environmental degradation.

3. Enhancing cross-sectoral institutional coordination

• Strengthening inter-agency collaboration to improve policy implementation and avoid fragmented governance in peatland restoration.
• Establishing a dedicated task force with the authority to oversee and enforce peatland protection measures beyond administrative boundaries.
• Encouraging multi-stakeholder participation, including local communities, in peatland conservation and restoration initiatives.

Sustainable peatland management

The Sinking Wetlands study underscores the urgent need for comprehensive peatland conservation strategies to mitigate flood risks and prevent further environmental damage. 

The findings serve as a critical wake-up call for policymakers, businesses, and local communities to take immediate and collective action to restore and protect Indonesia’s peatlands.