The Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) has emphasized that the bioprospecting procedures, or the utilization of Indonesia's genetic resources, have the potential to boost economic performance and positively impact community welfare. According to Nunu Anugrah, Director of Conservation of Biodiversity, Species, and Genetics at KLHK, bioprospecting not only supports economic growth but also serves as an option for conserving biodiversity. Speaking at the opening of the National Nature Conservation Day (HKAN) 2024 in Boyolali, Central Java, Nunu highlighted a shift in the approach from using entire species to selectively utilizing parts that have specific, high-value benefits when managed effectively.
Nunu explained that the potential uses are not limited to visible parts but also include compounds that can serve various purposes. Bioprospecting procedures should be inclusive and sustainable, accommodating the interests of various stakeholders, including local communities. For example, the development of Bajakah (Spatholobus littoralis), traditionally used by the Dayak community for natural remedies and believed to have multiple health benefits, must also benefit local communities when scaled up for industrial production. The government is currently working on regulations regarding benefit-sharing from bioprospecting activities. The existing regulation on bioprospecting, issued in 2018, is the Minister of Environment and Forestry Regulation No. P.02/MenLHK/Setjen/Kum.1/1/2018 on Access to Genetic Resources of Wild Species and Benefit Sharing for Their Utilization.
