Indonesia has the second largest biodiversity on the globe, after Brazil.
Many species are unique to Indonesia, and with many microclimates the range of plants is spectacular. There are around 2,500 types of orchid including the one pictured.
Over 6,000 plants are used in Indonesian Jamu herbalism as medicinal plants.
Many species are unique to Indonesia, and with many microclimates the range of plants is spectacular. There are around 2,500 types of orchid including the one pictured.
Over 6,000 plants are used in Indonesian Jamu herbalism as medicinal plants.
The ubiquitous Padi field, flooded for part of the year, keeps the massive population going. allowing often three crops a year.
The trouble is the population keeps expanding, and this means the expansion of agriculture is taking over the habitat of all Indonesia's plants and animals. The damage is accelerating, and it was bad enough forty years ago anyway when the population was 130 million (now 270 million). A similar disaster is happening in Brazil.
The trouble is the population keeps expanding, and this means the expansion of agriculture is taking over the habitat of all Indonesia's plants and animals. The damage is accelerating, and it was bad enough forty years ago anyway when the population was 130 million (now 270 million). A similar disaster is happening in Brazil.
Plants, animals and insects are an ecosystem which cannot survive the loss of habitat continually, the present human social system is destroying our own environment.
Deforestation in Indonesia is costing two million hectares a year loss, adding to the world's climate problems.
Deforestation in Indonesia is costing two million hectares a year loss, adding to the world's climate problems.
Animals such as the Orangutan are more and more dependent for survival on reserves and zoos rather than secure in their own habitat.
The loss of forest in the last fifty years is incredible and still continuing. Money talks everywhere.
Although some laws exist to protect some species they are not enforced properly, so it is just window dressing. It looks good in the UN but it is just a lot of pious words on paper in most instances.
Agriculture encroaches more and more into once isolated areas and it is doubly destructive as it now uses chemical pesticides, all pushed by multinational corporations rather than ecological necessity.
The vast number of islands in Indonesia are surrounded by sea of course, a great resource which was previously fished by small boats but now inreasingly over exploited by commercial destructive methods.
If you like tropical fruits Indonesia is the place to be, from mangosteens, papaya, Makissar drinks from a special type of passionfruit, starfruit and many others from different regions.
Volcanic eruptions are a double edged sword, they cause great destruction at times but in the long run they create fertile new soil.
Gradually plants and animals recolonise the devastated areas, and you get new farmland, at least until the next eruption.
Gradually plants and animals recolonise the devastated areas, and you get new farmland, at least until the next eruption.
The Titan arum is technically several flowers together, and attracts pollinators by its odour of rotting corpses as does the Rafflesia Arnoldii which is the world's largest single flower.
It can be seen at the botanic gardens in Bogor near Jakarta and reaches 12 feet and can weigh 170 pounds.
It has flowered in other countries now too so hopefully it will survive one way or another.
Rafflesia Arnoldii is a parasitic plant that attaches itself to a host.
It can reach 3 feet across and also smells awful just like the Titan arum above.
There are 28 species of parasitic Rafflesia plants.
It can reach 3 feet across and also smells awful just like the Titan arum above.
There are 28 species of parasitic Rafflesia plants.
Upland areas such as Bogor and Bandung near Jakarta have many tea plantations and other specialised crops.
Dogs like this one on Borneo seem often remarkably similar to the wild Australian dingoes.
Seems to like having his picture taken.
Seems to like having his picture taken.
Borneo (Indonesian Kalimantan) has a lot of rare and strange animals and is one of the last refuges for many species.
Deforestation is still continuing sadly.
Deforestation is still continuing sadly.
The Dayaks of Borneo were famous metalworkers and sometimes marauders.
Now they are pressured by Indonesian settlers from Java unfortunately.
Now they are pressured by Indonesian settlers from Java unfortunately.