# Indonesia’s biodiversity: levels, examples & conservation

> Explore genetic, species and ecosystem diversity, connections between animals, plants and soil, and ways to care for biodiversity at home and school.

Source: https://panduanhewan.org/en/biodiversity-of-indonesia/ · Updated 2 October 2026 · English · Bahasa Indonesia: https://panduanhewan.org/id/keanekaragaman-hayati-indonesia/
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Biodiversity is the variety of life within species, between species and across ecosystems. It includes animals, plants, fungi and microorganisms. [CBD, Article 2](https://panduanhewan.org/en/biodiversity-of-indonesia/#sumber-cbd)

## Three levels of biodiversity, with examples

### 1. Genetic diversity

Genetic variation within a species. A learning example is rice varieties within the same species. A variety is not automatically a separate species; visible colour or size alone is insufficient to measure genetic diversity.
[Concept source: FAO](https://panduanhewan.org/en/biodiversity-of-indonesia/#sumber-genes)

### 2. Species diversity

Diversity between species. Compare the Komodo dragon, Bali myna and Sumatran orangutan: three different species. This example does not imply they live together in one place.
[Concept source: CBD](https://panduanhewan.org/en/biodiversity-of-indonesia/#sumber-cbd)

### 3. Ecosystem diversity

Diversity of systems in which organisms interact with their physical surroundings. Rainforests, mangroves and coral reefs provide examples to compare using the habitat guides below.
[Concept source: CBD](https://panduanhewan.org/en/biodiversity-of-indonesia/#sumber-cbd)

These levels are connected. Counting visible animal species is one observation; it does not measure all genetic diversity or establish ecosystem condition.

## Why discuss plants, fungi and animals together?

### Flowers and pollinators

Animal pollinators help move pollen, enabling many flowering plants to produce seeds. Bees are not the only pollinators: other insects, birds and bats also contribute. Their roles depend on the plant and animal involved.
[Explanation source: FAO](https://panduanhewan.org/en/biodiversity-of-indonesia/#sumber-pollination)

### Leaf litter and soil life

Fungi, bacteria, earthworms and other organisms form soil food webs. Decomposition and nutrient cycling connect organic remains with plant growth. Fungi are not plants, and many soil organisms cannot be seen without equipment.
[Explanation source: FAO](https://panduanhewan.org/en/biodiversity-of-indonesia/#sumber-soil)

### Food and ecological connections

Agricultural biodiversity includes crops and livestock together with supporting pollinators, predators and soil organisms. Understanding a garden or field therefore involves relationships among organisms as well as the harvest.
[Explanation source: FAO](https://panduanhewan.org/en/biodiversity-of-indonesia/#sumber-agriculture)

[Explore food chains and feeding relationships →](https://panduanhewan.org/en/learn/food-chains/)

## Explore Indonesia’s biodiversity

Start with habitats, then explore animals and their distributions. PanduanHewan’s lists are a selection of sourced resources, not complete inventories of Indonesia’s species or ecosystem types.

[### Tropical Rainforests

Rainforests connect life from the forest floor to the canopy.
→](https://panduanhewan.org/en/habitats/tropical-rainforest/)[### Mangroves

Mangroves connect land, tides, and coastal life.
→](https://panduanhewan.org/en/habitats/mangroves/)[### Coral Reefs

Coral reefs are living ecosystems, beyond an underwater view.
→](https://panduanhewan.org/en/habitats/coral-reefs/)[### Savannas

Open landscapes have seasonal rhythms and wildlife different from dense forest.
→](https://panduanhewan.org/en/habitats/savanna/)[### Freshwater Wetlands

Rivers, lakes, marshes, and floodplains are connected by water.
→](https://panduanhewan.org/en/habitats/freshwater-wetlands/)[### Urban Habitats

Parks, trees, rivers, and gardens shape life in cities.
→](https://panduanhewan.org/en/habitats/urban/)

### Animal guides by island

[Animals of Sumatra →](https://panduanhewan.org/en/species/sumatra/)[Animals of Java →](https://panduanhewan.org/en/species/java/)[Animals of Kalimantan →](https://panduanhewan.org/en/species/kalimantan/)[Animals of Sulawesi →](https://panduanhewan.org/en/species/sulawesi/)[Animals of Bali →](https://panduanhewan.org/en/species/bali/)[Animals of Nusa Tenggara →](https://panduanhewan.org/en/species/nusa-tenggara/)[Animals of Maluku →](https://panduanhewan.org/en/species/maluku/)[Animals of Papua →](https://panduanhewan.org/en/species/papua/)

Island collections combine ranges described in guides and observation records. A record does not automatically establish native range, a resident population or endemism.

[Asian, Wallacean and Australian fauna →](https://panduanhewan.org/en/species/fauna-zones-wallace-line/)[Indonesia’s endemic animals →](https://panduanhewan.org/en/species/endemic/)[Threatened animals →](https://panduanhewan.org/en/species/threatened/)[Legally protected animals →](https://panduanhewan.org/en/species/protected/)[National parks →](https://panduanhewan.org/en/national-parks/)

Endemic describes a restricted natural range. Threatened describes extinction risk, while protected is a legal status. Read each separately using the animal’s sources.

## What threatens biodiversity?

IPBES identifies five groups of direct drivers of biodiversity change. This is a global framework; their influence at a particular site needs local evidence. [IPBES](https://panduanhewan.org/en/biodiversity-of-indonesia/#sumber-drivers)

- Changes in land and sea use that alter habitats.

- Direct removal of organisms, including overexploitation.

- Climate change.

- Pollution.

- Invasive alien species.

Alien does not automatically mean invasive. Alien species occur outside their natural range through human movement. Some become invasive when their spread and impacts threaten local biodiversity. Do not assign an invasive label from colour, appearance or a single photograph. [CBD](https://panduanhewan.org/en/biodiversity-of-indonesia/#sumber-invasive)

## Caring for biodiversity at home and school

The following are practical activity suggestions from PanduanHewan. Adapt them to the site, the land manager’s authority and participant supervision.

### Observe without disturbing

At school, observe from a distance under teacher supervision. Do not catch, touch, feed or approach nests. Use photographs when outdoor observation is unsuitable.
[Open the related guide →](https://panduanhewan.org/en/learn/schoolyard-animal-observation-journal/)

### Plan green spaces for the location

Ask a botanic garden or local agency about native plants suitable for your home or school site. Check their origin and invasive potential before buying. Do not collect wild plants for classroom activities.
[Open the related guide →](https://panduanhewan.org/en/habitats/)

### Do not release animals yourself

Do not release pets or purchased animals into the wild, waterways or parks as a conservation activity. Use official help channels when an animal needs attention.
[Open the related guide →](https://panduanhewan.org/en/animal-help-and-reporting/)

### Support a programme with a clear need

Choose an organisation programme that explains tasks, time, costs and supervision. Confirm intake before visiting; volunteering does not automatically permit animal handling.
[Open the related guide →](https://panduanhewan.org/en/volunteer-for-animals/)

Background on pollinator habitat and species-movement risks: [FAO](https://panduanhewan.org/en/biodiversity-of-indonesia/#sumber-pollination) · [CBD](https://panduanhewan.org/en/biodiversity-of-indonesia/#sumber-invasive).

### For schools, organisations and area managers

- Schools: use an observation journal with consistent duration and area. Separate observations from assumptions, and do not publish pupil identities or nest locations. This is enrichment, not an official ministry module.

- Organisations and managers: record dates, methods, identification sources and unsurveyed areas. Do not replace missing records with zero or equate visits with population size.

[Teaching materials and worksheets →](https://panduanhewan.org/en/learn/animal-teaching-resources/)[Printable observation journal →](https://panduanhewan.org/en/learn/schoolyard-animal-observation-journal/)[Site data and its limitations →](https://panduanhewan.org/en/open-data/)

### National policy direction: IBSAP 2025–2045

Bappenas publishes the launch information for Indonesia’s Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan 2025–2045. Schools, organisations and local government can start with official documents to understand the national direction. This PanduanHewan page is not a policy document or a government partnership statement.
[Read Bappenas’s official introduction ↗](https://www.bappenas.go.id/index.php/id/berita/peluncuran-ibsap-2025-2045-panduan-pengelolaan-keanekaragaman-hayati-untuk-wujudkan-visi-indonesia-emas-2045-lq4Ey)

### Starting points for official Indonesian data

Bappenas also announces the following national and ecoregional status documents. These links lead to publisher announcements; check each document’s data year, methods and coverage before quoting figures.

- [Indonesia 2024 status, Sumatra and Sulawesi ↗](https://www.bappenas.go.id/index.php/id/berita/bappenas-luncurkan-dokumen-strategis-pemetaan-keanekaragaman-hayati-indonesia-Bxglt)

- [Bali–Nusa Tenggara, Java, Maluku and Papua — 2026 announcement ↗](https://www.bappenas.go.id/id/berita/pemerintah-indonesia-luncurkan-empat-dokumen-status-keanekaragaman-hayati-perkuat-basis-data-pembangunan-berkelanjutan-Am0A5)

## Check your understanding: genes, species or ecosystems?

Three original PanduanHewan practice examples based on the concepts above. Answers are checked on this page without an account or data submission.
<p data-astro-cid-tpdxpr4u>Automatic marking needs JavaScript. The examples and explanations below remain readable.</p>Read the three worked answers
- Comparing inherited variation among rice varieties within one species.
Genetic: the comparison is within one species.

- Comparing the Komodo dragon, Bali myna and Sumatran orangutan.
Species: these are different species, not necessarily animals living together.

- Comparing rainforests, mangroves and coral reefs together with their physical environments.
Ecosystem: the comparison includes living communities and their surroundings.

## Sources and scope

This page introduces concepts and connects them to the site’s animal collections. It is not yet an Indonesian plant, fungi or genetics catalogue. The text was prepared with AI assistance and checked against the sources below; it has not received specialist biodiversity or teacher review.

Sources checked: 2 October 2026.

- [Convention on Biological Diversity — Article 2: terms ↗](https://www.cbd.int/convention/articles?a=cbd-02)

- [FAO — Harvesting Nature’s Diversity: diversity within species ↗](https://www.fao.org/4/v1430e/v1430e04.htm)

- [FAO — What is agrobiodiversity? ↗](https://www.fao.org/4/y5609e/y5609e01.htm)

- [FAO — Global Action on Pollination Services ↗](https://www.fao.org/pollination/en)

- [FAO Soils Portal — Soil biodiversity ↗](https://www.fao.org/soils-portal/soil-biodiversity/en/)

- [IPBES — Models of drivers of biodiversity and ecosystem change ↗](https://www.ipbes.net/ru/node/16157)

- [Convention on Biological Diversity — What are invasive alien species? ↗](https://www.cbd.int/invasive/WhatareIAS)

- [Kementerian PPN/Bappenas — Peluncuran IBSAP 2025–2045 ↗](https://www.bappenas.go.id/index.php/id/berita/peluncuran-ibsap-2025-2045-panduan-pengelolaan-keanekaragaman-hayati-untuk-wujudkan-visi-indonesia-emas-2045-lq4Ey)

- [Bappenas — Status Kekinian Keanekaragaman Hayati Indonesia 2024, Sumatra dan Sulawesi ↗](https://www.bappenas.go.id/index.php/id/berita/bappenas-luncurkan-dokumen-strategis-pemetaan-keanekaragaman-hayati-indonesia-Bxglt)

- [Bappenas — Dokumen status Bali–Nusa Tenggara, Jawa, Maluku dan Papua (2026) ↗](https://www.bappenas.go.id/id/berita/pemerintah-indonesia-luncurkan-empat-dokumen-status-keanekaragaman-hayati-perkuat-basis-data-pembangunan-berkelanjutan-Am0A5)

[Send a correction with a source →](https://panduanhewan.org/en/corrections/?page=%2Fen%2Fbiodiversity-of-indonesia%2F)