Lakes are situated within larger landscapes (social-technical-ecological systems) affected by internal and external drivers of change. Lake sustainability issues are cross-sectoral; environmental stewardship of lakes and catchment areas involves numerous actors. In Indonesia, lakes can exist in different formal and informal land-use types (i.e. within state forest lands, impacted by forestry concessions, or tenure insecure local peoples, and other land uses shaped by estate crops like oil palm, or smallholder agricultural land). As such, lake landscapes are subject to being shaped by numerous, overlapping, often conflicting institutions. Within these landscapes, lakes are thusly well-conceived as ‘sentinels’ of the landscape; the challenges to their ecological health, water quality, and functions that benefit local communities are complex. In this panel discussion we aim to explore ways to achieve improved environmental condition for livelihoods and communities; this requires untangling the complex and interconnected landscape contexts. Our discussants shall take a future-oriented view as to how lake landscapes could be more resilient, anticipating future climate change effects. We approach ‘lakes in the landscape’ issues cognizant of the full spatio-temporal drivers of landscape resilience, which include prosperity and wellbeing. Landscape approaches have emerged as one approach to dealing practically with navigating these complexities. An emerging landscape transition science paradigm provides a grounded approach to value-centred innovation supporting decision-systems in the long run. We will reflect upon business models, policy levers, cultural traditions, and learnings that might improve lake landscape sustainability in the face of continual landscape change.