Indonesia, a vast archipelago in Southeastern Asia, spans a total area of approximately 1,904,569 square kilometers, encompassing both land and water. It is strategically positioned between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean, with a coastline extending 54,716 kilometers. The country shares land borders with Malaysia on Borneo, Papua New Guinea on New Guinea, and East Timor on Timor Leste, while it is separated from Australia by the Timor Sea and from the Philippines by the Celebes Sea.

Culturally, Indonesia is incredibly diverse, with major ethnic groups including the Javanese, Sundanese, Malay, and Balinese. The predominant religion is Islam, but significant communities of Christians, Hindus, and Buddhists also contribute to the country’s cultural mosaic. Traditional arts such as Batik textiles, Wayang Kulit (shadow puppetry), and various dances are integral to Indonesian culture.

Economically, Indonesia relies on agriculture, with major crops including rice, palm oil, coffee, and rubber. Fishing is a vital industry, especially in coastal and island regions, and tourism is a key sector, with popular destinations like Bali and Komodo Island attracting visitors worldwide.

The country’s ecosystems are diverse, featuring tropical rainforests, mangroves, coral reefs, and volcanic mountains. However, with the increasing demands of natural resources due to increasing population, its significant forest coverage decline is threatened by deforestation and land conversion. In relation to conservation efforts in biodiversity, it manages around 155 protected areas, including 10 ASEAN Heritage Parks, to safeguard its natural heritage, which is home to numerous threatened species, including the Critically Endangered Sumatran tiger Panthera tigris sumatrae, Sumatran orangutan Pongo abelii, and Javan rhino Rhinoceros sondaicus. 

Indonesia boasts a remarkable biodiversity, hosting approximately 1,849 bird species, around 498 amphibian species, 791 reptile species, and 750 species of mammals. Additionally, the country is home to about 30,000 plant species, many of which are endemic and economically significant. This diversity is supported by a wide range of habitats, from rainforests to savannas and other macroenvironments.

However, this wealth of biodiversity is under serious threats. Deforestation has significantly reduced Indonesia’s forest cover from roughly 85% of the land area in the 1960s to about 50% by 2020. The primary drivers of deforestation include illegal and legal logging, expansion of palm oil plantations, and agricultural development. The situation is compounded by both natural and human-induced forest fires, which contribute to further habitat destruction and air pollution.

Despite these challenges, Indonesia is actively engaged in conservation efforts. These include reforestation projects, legal protections for wildlife, and various programs in establishing protected areas and species-specific conservation and protection initiatives. Balancing the efforts with the demands of development remains a critical and ongoing challenge to maintaining the country’s rich and diverse ecosystems.

Indonesia’s marine biodiversity is exceptionally diverse, hosting over 4,523 species of reef fish, over 1,300 mollusk species, a wide range of crustaceans and approximately 600 species of coral, which constitutes about 70% of the world’s coral diversity. The country is also a critical habitat for 25 marine mammal species, including dolphins, whales, and dugongs. Six of the seven global sea turtle species—Green Sea, Hawksbill, Olive Ridley, Leatherback, Loggerhead, and Flatback—are found in Indonesian waters. Its marine plant life is equally notable, with around 15 species of seagrass and 60 species of mangrove trees recorded in the country. 

However, these rich ecosystems are under severe threat due to various human-induced damage due to overfishing, unregulated (non-science based) coastal development projects, and pollution to marine biodiversity are significantly impacting marine life. While efforts such as conservation programs, marine protected areas, and international cooperation are underway to address these issues, managing the balance between human activities and marine conservation continues to be a significant challenge and needs further facilitation.