Ervana Trikarinaputri, Jakarta – The floods and landslides wreaking havoc in Aceh, West Sumatra, and North Sumatra are evidence that relying on forest-damaging extractive energy may not be the best solution for Indonesia, according to the Indonesian Institute Center for Public Policy Research (TII).
Legal researcher at TII, Christina Clarissa Intania, stresses that heavy rainfall and tropical cyclones were not the sole causes of the flash floods striking multiple regions across Sumatra. Lack of catchment areas due to forest damage also contributes to poor retention of rainwater.
"Weather indeed affects the flood situation a great deal. But if the forests in Sumatra are in prime condition, it's possible floods of this magnitude are preventable," Christina said in a written statement quoted on Saturday, November 29, 2025.
She then highlighted the Indonesian downstream plans until 2040, 90 percent of which come from minerals and coal mining. Christina stated that this flood disaster is an early warning of what will happen if forests and other catchment areas are massively transformed into mines.
Christina warned that the Sumatra floods indicate the complexity and close relationship between humans and nature. "The policy and political stage we see at play at the parliament and the palace, as well as the big corporations, are not entirely disconnected from the dynamics with nature," said Christina.
She invited the public to keep an eye on the policies, regulations, and events that could endanger nature. "With so many victims affected by the floods in Sumatra, we can no longer pretend that everyone, whoever they are, could be the next one affected," she said.
Christina argued that the widespread flash floods, which also disrupted telecommunications, serve as a reminder that environmental issues are the concern of all citizens, not just environmental activists or specific individuals. "We are all the ones who feel the impact when nature is damaged by human activities," said Christina.
Environmental issues, she said, are not only about proper waste disposal but also about the land clearing that puts the sustainability of forests and local communities at risk. "Especially indigenous communities who are generally marginalized in land acquisition issues," said Christina.
This public policy research institute emphasizes that at present, both regional and central governments need to focus on evacuation and rescue efforts for all affected individuals. The central government, said Christina, also must consider this a national disaster.
"Even though regions have declared disaster status, the disaster impact, causing a halt to activities and casualties in many cross-province areas, should be taken into consideration," she said.
Extreme weather triggered floods and landslides in several cities and regencies in Aceh, West Sumatra, and North Sumatra over the past few days. As of Friday afternoon, November 28, 2025, the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) recorded a total of 174 deaths and 12,546 families displaced as a result of this disaster.