Identified Natural Ecosystem Area in Indonesia in 2024

According to Low Carbon Development Indonesia (LCDI), Indonesia's natural ecosystems are categorized into four main types: marine, freshwater, semi-terrestrial, and terrestrial ecosystems.

Currently, there are 22 identified natural ecosystem types in Indonesia, including:

1. Neritik zone
2. Oceanic zone
3. Seagrass ecosystem
4. Coral reef ecosystem
5. River ecosystem
6. Lake ecosystem
7. Riparian ecosystem
8. Mangrove ecosystem
9. Coastal forest ecosystem
10. Dipterocarp forest ecosystem
11. Kerangas forest ecosystem
12. Swamp ecosystem
13. Peatland ecosystem
14. Karst ecosystem
15. Savanna ecosystem
16. Grassland ecosystem
17. Ultrabasic ecosystem
18. Lower montane forest ecosystem
19. Upper montane forest ecosystem
20. Sub-alpine ecosystem
21. Alpine ecosystem
22. Nival ecosystem

"Data on the area of each ecosystem type is currently limited to 8 types," stated LCDI, an institution initiated by the Ministry of National Development Planning/National Development Planning Agency, in its report.

The area of natural ecosystems in Indonesia identified up to 2024, based on data processed by LCDI from the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), is as follows:

1. Peatland ecosystem: 13,430,517 hectares (ha)
2. Savanna ecosystem: 10,275,300 ha
3. Mangrove ecosystem: 3,364,080 ha
4. Coral reef ecosystem: 2,500,000 ha
5. Kerangas forest ecosystem: 767,200 ha
6. Lake ecosystem: 523,388.03 ha
7. Karst ecosystem: 354,216.75 ha
8. Seagrass ecosystem: 293,464 ha

LCDI stated that the available data requires updating to ensure sustainable biodiversity management.

"Identification and mapping of ecosystems are crucial for all 22 natural ecosystems to inform policymaking by relevant parties," said LCDI.

(Read: Biodiversity Mapping in Indonesian ICCAs as of May 2025)