Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesian Environment Minister Mohammad Jumhur Hidayat has called on the public to take concrete local action to preserve Indonesia’s biodiversity, describing it as the foundation of both environmental and human sustainability.In a statement confirmed on Saturday, he noted that the International Day for Biological Diversity—commemorated every May 22—serves as a vital reminder that biodiversity is not merely a natural asset, but the primary foundation for sustaining human life.Speaking at the 2026 International Day for Biological Diversity commemoration in Depok, West Java, on Friday, the minister reminded the audience that Indonesia is one of the countries with the richest biodiversity in the world, ranking second only to Brazil.This status is driven by the country's diverse ecosystems—including tropical rainforests, peatlands, mangroves, and coral reefs—which serve as life support systems for the population.However, this wealth faces mounting threats from land-use changes, pollution, the unsustainable exploitation of natural resources, and invasive alien species.The minister stressed that the protection of biodiversity must be prioritized in development efforts.The actions that need to be realized include strengthening protected areas, rehabilitating degraded land, controlling pollution, and protecting indigenous peoples and local communities as the primary guardians of the ecosystem.The commemoration also reinforced Indonesia's commitment ahead of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP-17 CBD) in October 2026.Furthermore, it demonstrated the country's readiness to strengthen conservation efforts through the implementation of the 2025–2045 Indonesia Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan. Related news: Indonesia logs 10 new orchid records, expands biodiversity map