Adaptive Environmental Governance and Local Community Resilience in Addressing Tidal Flood Risks in the Peat-Coastal Lowlands of Indragiri Hilir Regency

Abstract

Tidal flooding in Indragiri Hilir Regency, Indonesia, is expanding amid lowland geographical conditions and environmental degradation, while disaster management remains reactive and community adaptation is insufficiently integrated into environmental governance. This study examines the ecological and anthropogenic drivers of tidal flooding, environmental policies, disaster budgeting, and community adaptation strategies to inform sustainable coastal environmental policy. A qualitative explanatory-critical case study was conducted in Indragiri Hilir Regency, Riau Province. Data were collected through semi-structured in-depth interviews, field observations, and document analysis and analyzed through data condensation, thematic categorization, data display, and conclusion drawing and verification. The findings indicate that the number of subdistricts affected by tidal flooding increased from three in 2019 to six in 2021. Identified drivers included land conversion in water infiltration areas, mangrove degradation, riverbank settlements, and sedimentation and waste accumulation in canals. Environmental governance was constrained by the absence of specific regulations and the Regional Disaster Management Agency’s (BPBD) annual budget of IDR 1 billion for managing multiple disaster types. Community adaptation strategies included maintaining seed reserves, adjusting planting calendars, undertaking independent evacuations, and collectively cleaning canals. These findings highlight the importance of integrating local adaptation strategies into environmental governance. The study recommends strengthening regulations, adopting risk-based budgeting, rehabilitating ecosystems, and enhancing government–community collaboration to support a transition from reactive disaster management toward sustainable coastal environmental governance.