Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) for Sustainable Riverine Systems: Case Study Bengawan Solo Watershed, Indonesia

Bengawan Solo Watershed (Indonesia) is the longest river in Java, Indonesia, with a length of 548.53 km, and crosses two provinces, namely Central and East Java. Water-related disasters such as floods and droughts are among the most frequent natural disasters. The occurrence of these disasters is expected to increase with a changing climate. ‘Nature-based Solutions’ (NbS) are increasingly seen as a promising approach to solving such complex and interrelated problems. This article explores the planning and implementation of NbS in Bengawan Solo Watershed, gaps, and opportunities, including stakeholder involvement, by focusing on descriptive and policy analysis. Our analysis showed that some related NbS are identified in upstream and downstream areas of Bengawan Solo Watershed, including green dams, woodland creation, and wetlands and storage ponds, integrated with the river management in the spatial planning among provincial and district governments in Central and East Java. Our analysis also showed that the implementation of NbS can be integrated with socio-economic activities to improve the livelihoods of local people. However, the current water-related policies and programs are only partially interrelated to the NbS concept, exacerbated by less coordination among involved parties and stakeholders. Policy enforcement and regulation on NbS and the improvement of cooperation among stakeholders need to be applied to anticipate the potential impact of climate change on flood and drought risks and worsening socio-economic conditions along Bengawan Solo Watershed.