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©  Zafer Kizilkaya

© Zafer Kizilkaya

Indonesia

A global biodiversity hotspot

Country

Indonesia is unquestionably one of the most biodiverse countries in the world and is a priority for global conservation.

Despite having the fourth largest population in the world, Indonesia is the most heavily forested place on Earth after the Amazon, and is home to roughly 11% of the world’s flowering plants, 13% of its mammals – including 46 primate species, 6% of its amphibians, 7% of its reptiles,16% of its birds and 14% of its fish (including freshwater and saltwater species).

Yet this biodiversity faces myriad threats including deforestation, unsustainable agriculture and plantations (such as oil palm and paper), forest fires triggered by human activities, water and air pollution, and poaching.

23% decline

50% of Indonesia is forested – a decline of 23% since 1990.

Twice the size of the UK

Sumatra is Indonesia’s largest island; it is almost twice the size of the UK.

The most volcanoes

Located between the Indian and Pacific Oceans, the country straddles the equator and has a hot, humid tropical climate. It also has more volcanoes than any other country in the world, many of which are active.

    23% decline

    50% of Indonesia is forested – a decline of 23% since 1990.

    Twice the size of the UK

    Sumatra is Indonesia’s largest island; it is almost twice the size of the UK.

    The most volcanoes

    Located between the Indian and Pacific Oceans, the country straddles the equator and has a hot, humid tropical climate. It also has more volcanoes than any other country in the world, many of which are active.

Our work to protect Indonesia’s biodiversity

Fauna & Flora began working with Indonesia’s Ministry of Forestry in 1996 and we have since built up an extensive network of partners ranging from forest-edge communities and civil society organisations to government and private business.

People are at the centre of our conservation initiatives. We are at the forefront of efforts to help communities map their customary forests and gain official recognition of their right to manage these areas.

Over the years we have brought about real improvements for biodiversity through a number of flagship programmes, including our work with partners in Kerinci Seblat National Park to combat the illegal trafficking of tigers and tiger parts.

This work began more than 15 years ago and has resulted in tiger numbers stabilising (even in the face of severe poaching pressure) thanks to an innovative collaboration with park authorities and local communities to strengthen tiger protection through forest patrols, undercover investigations and law enforcement. The team also responds to human-wildlife conflict and other wildlife emergencies and works to secure key tiger habitat in and around the park.

This is just one snapshot from a wide programme of activities in Indonesia, which also includes marine conservation in northern Sumatra, piloting REDD+ approaches to sustainable forest management, conservation of karst landscapes in southern Sulawesi, collaborative management and livelihood improvement together with indigenous people to protect biodiversity in Raja Ampat and much more besides.

Our camera traps reveal Sumatran wildlife.

More about our work in Indonesia

Village forest conservation in Kerinci Seblat buffer zone
© Edy Susanto / Fauna & Flora
Project

Village forest conservation in Kerinci Seblat buffer zone

Fauna & Flora is working with local communities and the government to safeguard rural livelihoods and forest habitats in...
Indonesia
Climate change
Habitat destruction
Illegal wildlife trade
People & the environment
Northern Aceh forest conservation
© Juan Pablo Moreiras / Fauna & Flora
Project

Northern Aceh forest conservation

Fauna & Flora is collaborating with communities, local government, conservation agencies and rangers to protect threaten...
Indonesia
Climate change
Habitat destruction
Illegal wildlife trade
People & the environment
Conserving ‘ridge to reef’ in Papua, Indonesia
© Fibrian Yusefa Ardi / Fauna & Flora
Project

Conserving ‘ridge to reef’ in Papua, Indonesia

Fauna & Flora is conserving Papua’s terrestrial and marine ecosystems with support from communities, the local governmen...
Indonesia
Climate change
Habitat destruction
Illegal wildlife trade
People & the environment
Conserving Sumatran tigers in Kerinci Seblat National Park
© Fauna & Flora / KSNP
Project

Conserving Sumatran tigers in Kerinci Seblat National Park

Fauna & Flora is working with park authorities and local communities to protect the critically endangered Sumatran tiger...
Indonesia
Illegal wildlife trade
People & the environment
Catalysing action for Indonesia’s threatened trees
© Yanuar Ishaq Dc / Fauna & Flora
Project

Catalysing action for Indonesia’s threatened trees

Fauna & Flora and local partners are supporting the Ministry of Environment and Forestry to develop and implement a nati...
Indonesia
Climate change
Habitat destruction
People & the environment
Resource extraction
Asian elephant
Asian elephant collecting grass in woodland habitat. © Nick Everett / Getty Images
Species

Asian elephant

Delve into the life of Asia's largest land mammal and discover how Fauna & Flora is addressing the increasing threats to...
Hornbills
Great hornbill. © Biraj Sarkar/ BIA / Minden / Nature Picture Library
Species

Hornbills

Hornbills are under threat from deforestation and hunting. Find out more about these extraordinary birds and how we can ...
Sumatran tiger
Sumatran tiger close up. © Ondřej Prosický / Adobe Stock
Species

Sumatran tiger

Feast on fascinating facts about Indonesia's last surviving tiger and how we're supporting the country's efforts to prot...
Pangolins
Sunda pangolin © Bjorn Olesen
Species

Pangolins

Meet the world's most trafficked mammals and discover how Fauna & Flora is tackling the threats to their survival in Afr...