Biodiversity conference highlights Indonesia's resources

PTerry Sunderland, an expert at the Bogor-based Center for International Forestry Research, said forests were mainly valued for their timber and land, not for their biodiversity. "People take biodiversity for granted," Sunderland said. "We can't estimate things like natural capital until we understand the value of it. It's like we jump from the 18th floor and don't realize we're in crisis mode until we reach the ninth floor. It's the same thing with biodiversity." He said that this lack of awareness could lead to very serious consequences.