Severe flooding struck the greater Jakarta area (Jabodetabek) once again in early March 2025, triggered by extreme rainfall and exacerbated by deforestation, land-use change, and unsustainable agricultural practices. This disaster has reinforced the urgent need for integrated and sustainable watershed management.

The incident also underscores the critical importance of long-term strategies in managing watersheds to prevent future disasters. One such mitigation effort is the PAHALA project (Pangrango-Halimun-Salak), a collaborative initiative between SNV, Rekonvasi Bhumi, and the Bogor Regency Government. The project employs a landscape-based approach to restore the Cisadane Watershed in a sustainable manner.

Gunawan Eko Movianto, M.M., Head of the Sub-Directorate for Agriculture and Food at the Directorate General of Regional Development, Ministry of Home Affairs, stated that the PAHALA initiative in the Upper Cisadane Watershed exemplifies a multi-stakeholder collaboration involving national and local governments, communities, and the private sector. Such collaboration is key to maintaining the long-term sustainability of ecosystems. The initiative focuses on forest conservation, improved water governance, and sustainable farming practices.

The initiative has resulted in a positive impact among the local community. According to Asep Maliki, a representative of the Community Business Group involved in the project, environmental conditions in the Upper Cisadane Watershed have significantly improved after years of land degradation. One of the most noticeable outcomes is the improvement in clean water quality across the region.

These achievements were highlighted during a workshop titled “Toward Integrated Watershed Management in the Upper Cisadane Sub-Watershed,” held at Lorin Syariah Hotel in Bogor Regency on March 13. The event marked two years of collaboration between SNV and the Bogor Regency Government in implementing integrated upstream landscape management.

As a strategic partner in communications for development, ID COMM supported SNV in crafting focused messaging strategies to enhance public awareness on the importance of integrated watershed management. Through the development and distribution of press releases that highlighted both the project’s achievements and processes, this effort not only promoted transparency but also built a fact-based narrative underscoring watershed management as a vital component in strengthening community resilience and environmental sustainability.