JAKARTA, Aug 20 (NNN-ANTARA) – The Indonesian government is preparing new regulations to strengthen biodiversity conservation, in response to mounting threats to the country’s unique ecosystems, Environment and Forestry Minister, Hanif Faisol Nurofiq, said, yesterday.
He stressed that, Indonesia’s status as a mega-biodiversity nation is now under serious pressure, from extractive industries and widespread environmental degradation.
“New regulatory instruments are still urgently needed,” the minister said, noting that, several endemic species face critical conditions.
Among them is the Mahakam dolphin, with a critically low population of about 80, confined to tributaries of the Mahakam River, in East Kalimantan province.
“Biodiversity is no longer solely Indonesia’s property. It has become a global asset that we must manage collectively, with responsibility and care,” Hanif added.
As an archipelago, rich in tropical rainforests and coral reefs, Indonesia is home to a high level of endemism, making conservation efforts crucial, for both national heritage and global ecological balance.– NNN-ANTARA
