Stakeholder support for riparian groups in urban river management: Communication and collaboration challenges in South Kalimantan, Indonesia

¹ Communication for Agricultural and Rural Development Study Program, Department of Communication and Community Development Sciences, Faculty of Human Ecology, IPB University, Bogor, Indonesia
² Communication Science Study Program, Faculty of Social and Political Science, Lambung Mangkurat University, Banjarmasin, Indonesia
³ Center for Agrarian Studies, International Research Institute for Social, Economic, and Regional Development Studies, IPB University, Bogor, Indonesia
⁴ Rural Sociology Study Program, of the Department of Communication and Community Development Sciences, Faculty of Human Ecology, IPB University, Bogor, Indonesia

^* Corresponding author: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Abstract

Rivers in urban Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, face mounting pressures from expanding populations. With 290 rivers weaving through the city, the local government has mobilized riparian communities for river maintenance since 2017 through the Maharagu Sungai program. However, the sustainability of these efforts depends critically on stakeholder support. This study examines support patterns across 31 riparian groups established in 2022-2023. Using Hierarchical Linear Modeling with responses from 186 members, leaders, and deputies, we analyzed the nested structure of individuals within groups. Findings reveal troubling disparities. Roughly 90 percent of groups operate with minimal stakeholder backing, only three secure moderate support, and none achieve strong support. Government agencies dominate with mean score of 2.57, while civil society (1.88) and private sector engagement (1.75) remain notably weak. The significant inter-group variance (ICC = 0.59) indicates disparities in communication and collaboration across riparian groups. These results highlight the need for more inclusive and continuous cross-sector communication strategies to strengthen stakeholder collaboration, enhance group capacities, and promote sustainable socio-economic transformation in urban agromaritime environments.