Indonesia urges local conservation action ahead of COP17 biodiversity talks

JAKARTA, May 24 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia is encouraging stronger local conservation efforts to reinforce biodiversity protection ahead of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) COP17 negotiations scheduled for October 2026.

Environment Minister Mohammad Jumhur Hidayat said on Saturday that biodiversity is a fundamental pillar of environmental sustainability and human well-being.

"This momentum reminds us that the diversity of life on Earth is not merely natural wealth, but the foundation for the sustainability of human life," he said.

Indonesia, considered one of the world's most biodiverse countries, is home to ecosystems ranging from tropical forests and peatlands to mangroves and coral reefs that support local livelihoods.

The government said efforts to strengthen biodiversity protection will focus on expanding protected areas, rehabilitating critical land, controlling pollution and implementing the Indonesia Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan 2025-2045 ahead of the COP17 biodiversity talks. Enditem