Revisiting Deforestation and the Challenges of Social Welfare in the Flood Disaster Discourse in Sumatra: A Literature Review from a Social Ecology Perspective

Abstract

Flood disasters that repeatedly affect Sumatra show that hydrometeorological hazards cannot be understood solely as natural phenomena. They are closely linked to environmental degradation, land-use governance, and the social vulnerability of affected communities. This study aims to examine how deforestation is discussed in the literature as part of the discourse on flood disasters in Sumatra, and how the literature addresses its implications for social welfare, especially among vulnerable groups. The study employs a qualitative approach through a literature review of journal articles, government reports, international organization publications, and data-based national reporting. The analysis is conducted descriptively and analytically using Bronfenbrenner’s social ecology perspective as the main conceptual framework.

The review shows that the literature consistently positions deforestation as a structural factor that intensifies flood risk and magnifies disaster impacts. However, discussions of social impacts, particularly on poor households, women, children, older persons, and other vulnerable groups, often remain detached from environmental analyses. Most social responses discussed in the literature are still reactive and short-term, emphasizing emergency aid rather than integrating social protection with environmental recovery and disaster risk reduction. This study argues that a social-ecological approach is necessary to connect environmental degradation with the social welfare consequences of flooding in Sumatra. Such an approach is important for developing more holistic, inclusive, and sustainable disaster policies.