Land Conversion, Flooding and Climate Change: A Critique of Forest Protection in Indonesia

Abstract

The flooding phenomenon in Indonesia is empirical evidence of unsustainable land conversion. BPS data shows that in the 2019–2020 period, Indonesia experienced 115.2 thousand hectares of deforestation, with approximately 57% of this being driven by the conversion of forests to oil palm plantations. This expansion not only exacerbates flood risks but also raises serious questions about the implementation of Indonesia's commitment to achieving SDGs 15. This study aims to analyze the relationship between forest conversion and flood disasters and assess the implementation of Indonesia's commitment to SDGs 15 in sustainable terrestrial ecosystem management. This study uses a green perspective to analyze the factors driving oil palm plantation expansion policies in Indonesia, as well as their implications for terrestrial ecosystems and increased flood risk by referring to Indonesia's commitment to SDGs 15. The research method uses qualitative descriptive techniques with data collection techniques through literature studies to obtain data from various relevant sources. The results of the study indicate that oil palm expansion contributes to increased flood risks and biodiversity loss. Data show that the frequency of flooding in Indonesia has experienced an increasing trend of up to 30% in the last two decades. Based on EPI data in 2022, Indonesia ranked 164th out of 180 countries, with a score of 28.2 out of 100, due to prioritizing economic growth over environmental sustainability. This finding indicates that Indonesia's commitment to SDG 15 is still not optimal, as evidenced by the increasing number of floods and their economic-social impacts.