RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta – Indonesia’s biodiversity is its most valuable asset, yet one that remains undervalued, according to KEHATI Foundation Executive Director Riki Frindos.

KEHATI, a national biodiversity conservation foundation established in 1994, focuses on promoting the sustainable use and protection of Indonesia’s biological resources. He said public attention continues to focus more on non-biological natural resources.

He described Indonesia’s genetic resources as a “gold mine” that, if conserved and used sustainably, will never be depleted. “These non-biological resources, however, have limitations, and they will eventually run out,” he said at the ESG Awards 2026 event in Jakarta on Thursday, August 6, 2026.

Using trees as an example, he noted that they are vital components of ecosystems -- storing water, regulating the climate, providing clean air -- and are valuable beyond their function as timber.

He added that Indonesia’s genetic resources have the potential to produce a wide range of high-value compounds. These could be used to develop pharmaceuticals, food products, cosmetics, and various other goods.

“This is a treasury of biodiversity that we can retain forever if we preserve and utilize it sustainably. Unfortunately, we often ignore it or at least underestimate its value,” he said.

Riki emphasized that Indonesia’s natural wealth must benefit the entire population, not just a select few. He argued that protecting biodiversity is a long-term investment in the prosperity of society and future generations.

Supporting the conservation and fair, sustainable use of biodiversity remains a priority for the KEHATI Foundation.

Meanwhile, Environment Minister Jumhur Hidayat said biodiversity loss has become a financial risk. In his view, nature can no longer be regarded as a free resource.

He stressed that the economic value of biodiversity -- and the potential costs of its degradation -- must be factored into all business and investment activities. “When ecosystems are threatened, investment portfolios are also affected,” he said.

As a result, investments must shift away from practices that harm nature and toward those that support environmental conservation. “Many bold steps have been taken to shift investments from those that are nature-negative to those that are nature-positive,” he said. (Misni Parjiati)