Analysis of factors in community willingness to manage floods in East Java during the pandemic

Abstract

Urbanisation is an important aspect of environmental management and requires special attention, as half of the world’s population lives in urban areas. As the urban population grows, this poses a number of challenges, particularly related to environmental issues and floods. Indonesia, a developing nation and the fourth most populous globally, with over 264 million inhabitants, faces significant environmental and flood concerns, notably exacerbated by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. These issues are poised to exert a profound and enduring influence on the populace. East Java province, one of the densely populated provinces in Indonesia, experiences complex environmental problems, floods, and air pollution. Therefore, this research identified the factors that influenced the community’s willingness to participate in environmental conservation and flood management in East Java province during the COVID-19 pandemic. This research employed a mixed-method approach, combined qualitative and quantitative methods, and utilised the triangular relationship theory. The result showed six predominant factors within the population of East Java that significantly affected the environmental conditions and the frequency of flood events in the area.

Contribution

Floods in the city during the pandemic caused concern for those affected by the disaster and the implementation of activities adjusted government policies. For sustainability, the urban environment in Indonesia is working hard to anticipate flooding in cities. Apart from that, the government, private sector, community leaders, and the media also play an important role.