Biodiversity Status Documents Launched to Strengthen National Governance
The Ministry of Environment/Bureau of Environmental Control (KLH/BPLH) has launched the Biodiversity Status documents for Papua, Bali-Nusa Tenggara, Java, and Maluku as a scientific foundation for environmental policymaking. The documents are expected to strengthen national biodiversity governance by providing information on the condition of ecosystems, species, and genetic resources in various strategic regions of Indonesia.
Minister of Environment/Head of BPLH Moh Jumhur Hidayat stated that the documents represent significant progress in building a more directed and science-based management system for Indonesia’s biodiversity. “We must ensure that the utilisation of biodiversity and the various instruments developed strengthen biodiversity conservation efforts in Indonesia, maintaining its sustainability, ensuring fairness for communities, considering a scientific basis in decision-making, applying good and integrity-based governance, and involving various parties (the-whole-of-government and the-whole-of-society),” Jumhur said on Tuesday (21/7).
According to Jumhur, Indonesia possesses approximately 120 million hectares of forest area, 20 million hectares of peatland, more than 15 million hectares of karst ecosystems, 3.3 million hectares of mangroves, and over 2,000 natural lakes. However, this biological wealth faces various threats, ranging from land-use change and pressure on habitats to the increasing risk of extinction for a number of species.
He added that biodiversity is not only a natural treasure that must be protected but also holds great potential to support sustainable development through bioprospecting, biotechnology, and the utilisation of genetic resources while adhering to sustainability principles. Its utilisation must be accompanied by the application of biosafety principles, ecosystem integrity, and fair and equitable benefit-sharing.
On the same occasion, Minister of National Development Planning/Head of Bappenas Rachmat Pambudy affirmed that biodiversity is the foundation for Indonesia’s sustainable development. “I want to re-emphasise how much we need this biodiversity in the past, present, and future. This biodiversity is our future resource,” Rachmat said.
The government is also continuing to strengthen biodiversity governance through the development of the Indonesia Biodiversity-data Centre (IBC), the formulation of the Indonesian Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (IBSAP) 2025–2045, and the preparation of regulations regarding access to and benefit-sharing from the utilisation of genetic resources and a Biodiversity Credit mechanism. KLH/BPLH hopes the launch of these documents will accelerate biodiversity protection efforts while supporting sustainable development.