"Our country is one of the nations that is recognized as a megadiverse hotspot. Very few countries possess the richness of biodiversity that we have," Minister of Forestry, Raja Juli Antoni, remarked during the 2025 National Natural Conservation Day event held here on Monday.
The minister stated that Indonesia's forests are home to 10 percent of the world's flowering plants, 12 percent of mammalian species, about 15 percent of reptiles and amphibians, and 17 percent of fish species in its waters.
This wealth of biodiversity is underscored by the discovery of 19 new species by mid-2025, comprising 11 types of flora and eight types of fauna.
The Ministry's Director General of Conservation of Natural Resources and Ecosystems, Satyawan Pudyatmoko, explained that collaboration between ministries, agencies, and various universities across Indonesia made the discovery of 19 new species by mid-2025 possible.
He noted that the ministry has worked closely with the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) and universities nationwide to identify new species of flora and fauna.
The 19 newly identified species include Begonia bukitrayaens, Begonia kalimantana, and Bulbophyllum bukitbakariense, found in the Bukit Baka Bukit Raya National Park in Kalimantan.
In Southwest Papua, researchers discovered Bulbophyllum abuniorum (a species of orchid), Bullbophyllum sandfordiorum, Dendrobium wanmae, Dendrobium eruciforme, and Mediocalcar gemma-coronae.
In Rinjani National Park, a new mushroom species, Morchella rinjaniensis, was identified, while in Riau, Homalomena chikmawatiae was found, and in Aceh, Chiloschista tjiasmantoi was documented.
Regarding fauna, the ministry reported the discovery of Cyrtodactylus pecelmadiun (a type of gecko) in East Java; two species of horned frogs, Limnonectes maanyanorum and Limnonectes nusantara in Central Kalimantan; and the tree frog Rhacophorus boeadii in West and Central Sulawesi.
A new land snail species, Diancta batubacan, was identified in North Maluku, along with two turtle beetle species, Thlaspidula gandangdewata and Thlaspidula sarinoi, found in Central and West Sulawesi.
Lastly, a new species of blind cave fish from West Java, named Barbodes klapanunggalensis, was also documented.
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Translator: Prisca, Kenzu
Editor: Primayanti
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