BRIN Research: Java's North Coast Faces Systemic Crisis, 65% of Coastline Experiencing Erosion

The North Coast (Pantura) region of Java is currently in a worrying state of crisis. According to the latest research, 65.8% of the coastline area from Serang to Situbondo has experienced massive erosion that threatens residents’ living spaces and national economic infrastructure. This data was presented by Tubagus Solihuddin, a researcher from the Centre for Climate and Atmospheric Research at the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), during a discussion forum on integrating science for coastal resilience in Jakarta on Thursday (30/4/2026). Tubagus explained that most of this region consists of unconsolidated deposits. “Thus, 84% of Java’s North Coast is composed of fluvial deposits and delta deposits. Geologically, the deposits forming Java’s North Coast are still unconsolidated, not yet strongly compacted, making them highly susceptible to erosion and compaction,” stated Tubagus. This condition is worsened by the morphology of Pantura, which is dominated by low-lying plains. Approximately 83% of the north coast’s length has an elevation of less than 10 metres above sea level. Analysis using Sentinel satellite imagery from the 2000-2024 period shows a highly concerning trend. Erosion is occurring in delta areas that should be sites of sedimentation or land accretion. This is strongly suspected to be due to human activities in the upstream areas, such as dam construction and river canalisation, which disrupt sediment supply to the estuary. The impacts are clearly recorded at several points: The crisis in Pantura is not just about abrasion. This region faces a “deadly combination” of sea level rise (SLR) and land subsidence. Based on altimetry data, sea levels in Pantura are rising at an average of 0.41 cm per year. On the other hand, the rate of land subsidence in some cities is much faster. The highest land subsidence is recorded in Demak (16 cm/year), Jakarta (15 cm/year), Sidoarjo (14 cm/year), and Pekalongan (11 cm/year). “Java’s Pantura is facing a real crisis. As mentioned earlier, the challenges are not only erosion, abrasion, flooding, but also sea level rise and land subsidence. And this is not a local issue; it is a national issue. Considering that Java’s Pantura is the backbone of the national economy,” emphasised Tubagus. Each coastal segment has different characteristics, so policies taken must be based on credible scientific research. The main focus moving forward must prioritise ecosystem balance to preserve Indonesia’s economic backbone.