Indramayu, West Java — Once striking only a handful of times each year, tidal floods in Eretan Wetan now arrive with alarming frequency, often occurring almost every month. The worsening situation, driven by rising sea levels and climate change, has placed growing pressure on the coastal community and spurred researchers to find solutions that balance environmental realities with the needs of local residents.

Unlike conventional approaches that focus primarily on relocation, this project emphasizes adaptation. Our Researchers, Adiwan Fahlan Aritenang, Ph.D., Dr. Eng. Donny Koerniawan, Nurrohman Wijaya, Ph.D. and our doctoral students, argue that moving residents away is not the only answer; instead, the challenge is how those who remain can live with the impacts of climate change while keeping their community intact.

“Relocation often fragments social bonds and disrupts livelihoods,” one researcher explained. “We want to explore strategies that protect people’s safety without erasing their way of life.”

The program looks to merge traditional knowledge with modern technology. For generations, coastal residents have drawn on local wisdom, such as building stilt houses or planting mangroves to guard against erosion. Now, these practices are being reexamined alongside contemporary methods like climate-resilient housing designs, improved drainage, and stronger coastal infrastructure.

Beyond physical adaptations, the initiative underscores the importance of maintaining social cohesion. Preserving cultural traditions, sustaining fishing livelihoods, and ensuring cooperation among neighbors are seen as essential to long-term resilience.

The ultimate goal, researchers say, is to create sustainable strategies that address immediate flooding challenges while empowering communities for the future. This means encouraging local participation, drawing on community strengths, and ensuring that residents themselves play a central role in shaping their own adaptation plans.

As tidal floods continue to reshape life in Eretan Wetan, the project offers hope that resilience can be built not only through engineering, but also through trust, tradition, and community-driven action.