Indonesia's Bold Move: Saving Oceans Starts on Land

Indonesia is taking a new approach to protect its aquatic ecosystems: safeguarding the land that connects to them. The Deputy Minister of Environment emphasized that rivers, coastal waters, and marine habitats cannot be protected in isolation. Pollution and land damage upstream directly threaten downstream waters. By conserving interconnected land environments, Indonesia aims to reduce sediment runoff, prevent chemical pollution, and preserve biodiversity in its seas, lakes, and rivers. The policy links terrestrial conservation directly to aquatic health, marking a shift from separate management strategies. Officials say the approach will strengthen food security and support communities that depend on fishing and tourism. The government plans to coordinate across ministries and local authorities to enforce land-use rules near watersheds and coastlines.