Established and formally instituted in 2025 within the Department of Geography at Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences Universitas Indonesia, The Tropical Landscape Dynamics research cluster focuses on a comprehensive understanding of the interactions between tropical climate, landforms (geomorphology), hydrological systems, including soils, and their impacts on landscape evolution and sustainability in tropical regions.

This research cluster will conduct research to address the challenges of environmental degradation, climate uncertainty, and pressure on natural resources, using an interdisciplinary and systems-based approach.

The Tropical Landscape Dynamics Research Cluster will focus on:

• Tropical Environmental Processes and Change. Studying on the dynamics of tropical environmental processes: climate, water, soil, and landscapes as an impact of landuse/landcover and climate change.
• Climate–Soil–Water Interactions. Exploring the interrelationships between rainfall, soil, and surface water to understand the vulnerability of tropical environments.
• Tropical Watershed and Geomorphology. Focusing on the form and function of tropical watersheds, including water and sediment flow, in the context of landuse/landcover and climate change

Mission

1. Conduct Innovative Research: To generate profound scientific knowledge on the complex interactions between tropical climate, soil, water, and landforms, and their impacts on landscape evolution and sustainability.
2. Develop Models and Technologies: To build and apply integrated hydrological and geomorphological modeling (such as SWAT and HECHMS) capable of predicting environmental changes and identifying potential hazards across multiple scales (hill-slope, watershed, regional).
3. Integrate Knowledge and Policy: To translate research findings and complex data into evidence-based policy recommendations and adaptive strategies that can be implemented to achieve sustainable and climate-resilient tropical watersheds.
4. Strengthen Interdisciplinary Collaboration: To establish strong collaborative networks with diverse stakeholders, including cross-disciplinary academics, government agencies, the private sector, and local communities, ensuring holistic and solution-oriented research.
5. Enhance Human Resource Capacity: To serve as a platform for capacity building for researchers, lecturers, and students through training, research mentorship, and knowledge transfer in the fields of physical geography, hydrology, and earth sciences.