{ "success": true, "data": { "id": 1921651, "msgid": "world-envious-these-rare-plants-and-animals-only-exist-in-indonesia-1786791072", "date": "2026-08-15 17:00:14", "title": "World Envious! These Rare Plants and Animals Only Exist in Indonesia", "author": "", "source": "CNBC", "tags": "", "topic": "Environment", "summary": "Indonesia's extraordinary biodiversity, home to roughly 17% of the world's wildlife, is increasingly being supported through sustainable financing instruments such as green sukuk. The Ministry of Environment and Forestry received US$2.7 million last year for the Maluku Conservation Center, while researchers continue to discover new species, including 29 new flora types between 2025 and 2026. The article highlights iconic endemic species and stresses the importance of balancing biodiversity use with long-term sustainability under the blue economy framework.", "content": "

Indonesia is one of the countries with the greatest wealth of flora\nand fauna in the world, both on land and in the water.<\/p>\n

According to the UNDP\u2019s Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN),\nIndonesia is among the world\u2019s 17 megadiverse countries and is home to\naround 17% of the world\u2019s wildlife.<\/p>\n

As the country marks its 81st Independence Day, biodiversity wealth\nis one of Indonesia\u2019s natural assets that deserves attention.\nConservation efforts are also evolving, not only through conservation\npolicy but also through sustainable financing instruments.<\/p>\n

One example is through green sukuk. The Ministry of Environment and\nForestry (KLHK), with support from BIOFIN UNDP, received an allocation\nof US$2.7 million last year from green sukuk funds for the construction\nof the Maluku Conservation Center, which is intended for the rescue,\nrehabilitation, and release of wildlife into their natural habitats. The\nuse of green sukuk for biodiversity-related projects expands the use of\ngreen financing instruments that were previously directed more at other\nenvironmental and climate agendas.<\/p>\n

Indonesia\u2019s biodiversity wealth has not even been fully revealed. The\nNational Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) notes that from 1967 to\n2025, its researchers together with national and international partners\nhave discovered 1,583 new species, 712 of which are flora.<\/p>\n

Discoveries continue. In the period from 2025 to 2026, at least 29\nnew types of Indonesian flora have been scientifically described,\nranging from the Rafflesia, Begonia, Homalomena, Rhododendron, and\nNepenthes groups to orchids (Orchidaceae).<\/p>\n

Some of the flora that are part of Indonesia\u2019s biodiversity wealth\ninclude:<\/p>\n

    \n

  1. Rafflesia arnoldii - An iconic flora from Sumatra known for\nhaving a very large single flower.<\/p><\/li>\n

  2. Giant corpse flower (Amorphophallus titanum) - An endemic\nSumatran plant famous for the size of its inflorescence and its\ndistinctive aroma.<\/p><\/li>\n

  3. Chiloschista tjiasmantoi - A new orchid species included among\nthe 16 flora identified by BRIN researchers throughout 2025.<\/p><\/li>\n

  4. Syzygium halmaherense - One of the new species from the Syzygium\ngenus that was successfully identified in Halmahera in 2025.<\/p><\/li>\n

  5. Begonia antoi - A new begonia species from the Gayo Highlands,\nAceh, which is very rare and threatened with extinction.<\/p><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Indonesia\u2019s biological wealth does not stop at flora. Throughout 2025\nalone, BRIN researchers identified 32 new fauna species, ranging from\ninsects, fish, amphibians, reptiles, and molluscs to mammals.<\/p>\n

    Indonesia is also a habitat for various distinctive wildlife, from\nendangered species to types that have only recently been scientifically\ndescribed. Some of these include:<\/p>\n

      \n

    1. Javan rhinoceros (Rhinoceros sondaicus) - One of the rarest\nmammals in the world whose wild population remains in Ujung Kulon\nNational Park, Banten.<\/p><\/li>\n

    2. Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae) - The only surviving\ntiger population in Indonesia after the Javan and Balinese tigers were\ndeclared extinct.<\/p><\/li>\n

    3. Tapanuli orangutan (Pongo tapanuliensis) - An orangutan species\nfound only in the Batang Toru area of North Sumatra, with a very limited\ndistribution range.<\/p><\/li>\n

    4. Barbodes klapanunggalensis - A blind cave fish species newly\ndiscovered in Klapanunggal, West Java.<\/p><\/li>\n

    5. Johnius javaensis - A new fish species described in 2025 from the\nsouthern coast of Java. Specimens in the study were obtained from fish\nmarkets in Java, Bali, and Lombok.<\/p><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      This biodiversity wealth not only has ecological value but also\nsupports the economic activities of communities. In the waters, for\nexample, the diversity of biological resources is part of the natural\ncapital for the fisheries sector, marine tourism, and the livelihoods of\ncoastal communities.<\/p>\n

      Therefore, the utilisation of biological wealth must go hand in hand\nwith its sustainability.<\/p>\n

      This principle is also part of the development of the blue economy,\nwhich places ecosystem health as the foundation for the long-term\nutilisation of marine resources. At 81 years of independence, protecting\nIndonesia\u2019s biodiversity is increasingly important amid the discovery of\nnew species and the threat of extinction.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/world-envious-these-rare-plants-and-animals-only-exist-in-indonesia-1786791072", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }