DAS Siak faces significant environmental challenges, including sedimentation reducing the river’s depth from 30 meters to 18 meters due to upstream erosion. Pollution from industrial waste, household waste, deforestation due to illegal logging, logging under Forest Concession Rights (HPH), forest-to-plantation conversion, mangrove ecosystem degradation, abrasion, and seawater intrusion exacerbates the situation.
InterventionIn 2023, BKSDA Riau and PT. PLN inspected watershed rehabilitation efforts at Giam Siak Kecil Wildlife Reserve and canal construction in Bedeng. In January 2024, BKSDA Riau planted trees on 2 hectares in Tanah Merah village, Kampar regency, and planned to rehabilitate 180 hectares with 72,000 trees this year. PT. Nestle and Siak regency planted 30,000 mangrove trees in Rawa Mekar Jaya village in 2024.
In 2020, BPDAS Indragiri Rokan and KLHK organized Land and Forest Rehabilitation with local involvement, planting 800,000 seedlings. The Pekanbaru government, Environment and Forestry Department, BKSDA Riau, and partners regularly conduct river and watershed cleanups and tree planting, involving private companies like PT Toyota and PT. Nestle, and non-profits like Yayasan Salamba. The Green Siak Roadmap Plan outlines strategies for peatland protection, fire prevention, social forestry, and ecotourism development.