Enviro News Asia, Depok — Indonesia’s Ministry of Environment/Environmental Control Agency (KLH/BPLH) has emphasized the importance of concrete local actions in protecting biodiversity as a foundation for environmental sustainability, food security, public health, and the country’s future economic resilience.
The message was delivered during the commemoration of International Biodiversity Day 2026 at Universitas Islam Internasional Indonesia under the theme “Acting Locally for Global Impact.”
Indonesia’s Minister of Environment and Head of the Environmental Control Agency, Moh Jumhur Hidayat, stated that biodiversity is not merely a natural asset but a fundamental pillar supporting human life and sustainable development.
“International Biodiversity Day reminds us that the diversity of life on Earth is not only a natural treasure but also the essential foundation for the sustainability of human life,” Jumhur said during the event.
The celebration featured a series of activities including tree planting, awards for individuals and institutions contributing to biodiversity conservation, presentations on Indonesia’s biodiversity protection achievements, and the Indonesia Nature Positive workshop involving local governments, academics, communities, civil society organizations, and private sector representatives.
Rector of Universitas Islam Internasional Indonesia, Jamhari Makruf, expressed appreciation for the university’s role as host of the event and reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to becoming a green campus through sustainable area development and environmentally friendly infrastructure.
Indonesia is recognized as one of the world’s mega-biodiversity countries, with ecosystems ranging from tropical rainforests, peatlands, and mangroves to coral reefs that support livelihoods and help mitigate climate change.
However, the country’s biodiversity continues to face serious threats including land conversion, pollution, unsustainable exploitation of natural resources, climate change, and invasive alien species.
In response, KLH/BPLH stressed that biodiversity protection must become a key development priority through strengthened conservation areas, rehabilitation of degraded land, pollution control, and the protection of Indigenous Peoples and local communities who play a vital role in safeguarding ecosystems.
The commemoration also served as part of Indonesia’s preparations for the upcoming Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP-17 CBD) scheduled for October 2026, while reinforcing implementation of the Indonesia Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (IBSAP) 2025–2045.
As part of the follow-up activities, KLH/BPLH will organize a Youth Day Out event on May 23, 2026, at the Angke Kapuk Mangrove Nature Tourism Park in Jakarta, involving students, youth communities, and environmental groups to strengthen environmental education and youth participation in biodiversity conservation.
The ministry emphasized that International Biodiversity Day should become a collective call to action, highlighting that consistent local initiatives can create meaningful global impacts for the future of the planet. (*)
