To avert future flood chaos, Indonesian capital urged to defend nature

SLOW TO ACT

Hidayah Hamzah, a forests expert at think-tank World Resources Institute Indonesia, said Jakarta could not solve its flooding problem alone.

"The city needs to collaborate with surrounding areas," he said, adding the government should stop further urban conversion of forested areas and watersheds.

San Jose-Ballesteros noted that collaboration and alignment of long-term plans across cities and regions "would be crucial in addressing the issue".

Swathes of Jakarta and nearby towns were inundated after heavy rain fell at the turn of the year.

The rainfall at the start of 2020 was one of the most extreme events since records began in 1866, said Indonesia's state weather agency.

But Jakarta is no stranger to encroaching water. More than 50 people died in one of its deadliest floods in 2007 and five years ago much of the centre was inundated when canals overflowed.

Past floods highlight the importance of better early warning systems and community preparedness, said Abhas Jha, East Asia and Pacific manager for urban development and disaster risk at the World Bank.

The government has decided to move the administrative functions of the capital to Borneo island from 2024, to help reduce population pressure on Jakarta.

But it has pledged to spend $40 billion to save the slowly sinking city over the next decade.

Plans to improve Jakarta's flood defences include building two dams and works on the city's biggest river.

President Joko Widodo has blamed the flooding on delays to those infrastructure projects caused by land acquisition and other problems.

Shobhakar Dhakal, a professor in the department of energy, environment and climate change at the Asian Institute of Technology, said the situation was not yet out of control but immediate action was needed to tackle the risks.

"I wish the decision-makers (would) learn faster... to address a crisis which is only going to increase," he said.