RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Ahead of the 17th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP‑17) in October 2026, Indonesia is strengthening its commitment to biodiversity conservation through the Indonesia Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (IBSAP) 2025–2045.

The government underscored this commitment during the 2026 International Day for Biological Diversity commemoration in West Java.

Environment Minister Mohammad Jumhur Hidayat urged the public to protect Indonesia’s biodiversity, which he described as vital to environmental sustainability and human life. He said the International Day for Biological Diversity, observed annually on May 22, is an important occasion to raise awareness that biodiversity is not merely a natural resource but the foundation of life itself.

“This momentum reminds us that the diversity of life on Earth is not only a natural resource but also the primary foundation for the sustainability of human life,” Minister Jumhur said at the peak event in Depok, West Java, on Friday, May 22, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

He emphasized that Indonesia ranks second only to Brazil in biodiversity, with ecosystems ranging from tropical forests and peatlands to mangroves and coral reefs that sustain human life and the environment.

However, this wealth faces serious threats, including land conversion, pollution, unsustainable resource exploitation, and the spread of invasive species.

The government stressed that biodiversity protection must be a national development priority. Measures include strengthening protected areas, rehabilitating degraded land, controlling pollution, and safeguarding indigenous peoples and local communities, who have long served as ecosystem guardians.

The 2026 International Day for Biological Diversity also forms part of Indonesia’s preparations for CBD COP‑17. Through the IBSAP 2025–2045, the government aims to promote integrated, sustainable conservation practices to protect biodiversity for future generations. ***