Wallacea is a living laboratory of Earth's evolution – and its wildlife, forests and reefs will be devastated unless we all act
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Friday, August 11, 2023
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Wallacea is a fascinating region of both land and sea.
Key Points:
- Wallacea is a fascinating region of both land and sea.
- Spanning approximately 338,000 square kilometres within Indonesia, it is home to a rich diversity of animals and plants, with hybrid species from both Asia and Australia/Papua regions.
- Take a look at incredible species such as the komodo dragon, anoa, tarsier, babirusa, and giant bees.
How the region got its name
- Its northern boundary begins at the Talaud Islands (North Sulawesi) and reaches down to Rote Ndao Regency in the south – in East Nusa Tenggara Province, near Australia.
- This imaginary line defining its boundaries is known as the “Wallacea line.” Alfred Russel Wallace, the British naturalist, was the first western scientist to explore the biodiversity in this region.
- Two centuries have passed since Wallace’s work, and the Wallacea region has drastically changed from what the naturalist once observed.
The impact of global demand for palm oil and batteries
- It occurred primarily due to foreign investments in Indonesia for forest logging concessions and the establishment of oil palm plantations.
- From palm oil plantations in West Sulawesi to land clearing and development, changes driven by human activities continue to flourish in the region.
- These companies have cleared forests and other ecosystems to make way for palm oil, cocoa and chocolate plantations.
- Nickel mining also became a prevalent industrial activity in these areas, due to growing demand for nickels as a raw material for electric vehicle batteries.
Tarsiers, birds and reefs are all at risk
- There are more than 40 infrastructure projects underway, including dams, roads, railway systems, oil and gas initiatives, and many others.
- In the ocean, valuable ecosystems like coral reefs have suffered extensive damage as a result of overfishing and destructive practices.
Working together for a better future
- The world must pay careful attention to the future of the ecosystems in Wallacea.
- Without serious conservation efforts, millions of hectares of forests in this region could transform into desolate wastelands.
- We’re hoping this event grabs more public interest and gets everyone working together to come up with fresh ideas for keeping it all preserved.