Jakarta, July 21 -- The National Development Planning Ministry (Bappenas) on Tuesday launched four Indonesia Biodiversity Status reports covering the Bali-Nusa Tenggara, Java, Maluku, and Papua regions.

"I see biodiversity as being similar to rare earth resources minerals. We can only harness and benefit from rare earth if we have sufficient understanding and scientific knowledge," National Development Planning Minister Rachmat Pambudy said during the report's launch here on Tuesday.

The reports were developed in collaboration with the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), the Environment Ministry, the Forestry Ministry, the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, and the Ministry of Agriculture, with support from the Germ...