Community Adaptation and Local Wisdom in Managing Flood Risks in Upstream Watershed Areas of Southeast Asia

The upstream watershed area in Indonesia is an area that is vulnerable to flooding due to environmental degradation, land conversion, and erratic rainfall patterns. This study aims to analyze the forms of adaptation carried out by local communities and explore the role of local wisdom in flood risk management, focusing on the relationship between community social capacity and the effectiveness of community-based risk reduction strategies. This study uses a descriptive qualitative approach with case studies in three villages in the upstream area of the river. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with twenty-four informants consisting of indigenous leaders, farmers, and village officials, and supported by participatory observation and documentation of local practices. Data analysis was carried out thematically to identify patterns of community adaptation and forms of integration of local values in environmental management practices. The results of the study show that the community develops adaptation strategies based on local wisdom, such as contour farming systems, water-retaining vegetation management, rainwater runoff channels, and local traditions as early warning systems. These findings suggest that the integration between community adaptation and local wisdom forms the foundation of contextual and sustainable flood risk management. This research makes a theoretical contribution to the development of disaster science and a practical contribution to the formulation of community-based environmental management policies.