Changes in the human footprint in and around Indonesia’s terrestrial national parks between 2012 and 2017

Between 2012 and 2017, Ujung Kulon National Park in Indonesia experienced the most significant decrease in human footprint (HF) of all studied national parks, with a reduction of 10.5%. This decline contrasts sharply with the majority of Indonesia's terrestrial national parks, where HF increased by up to 77.3%, driven primarily by rising population density and improved access via roads, rivers, and coastlines. The study, which analyzed changes in HF across 43 national parks using a standardized metric, highlights the vulnerability of protected areas in Indonesia due to competing economic development priorities. By quantifying environmental impacts from human activities, this research underscores the urgent need for targeted conservation strategies to mitigate increasing pressures on these critical ecosystems.

Dwiyahreni, A. A., Fuad, H. A. H., Muhtar, S., Soesilo, T. E. B., Margules, C., & Supriatna, J. (2021). Changes in the human footprint in and around Indonesia’s terrestrial national parks between 2012 and 2017. Scientific Reports, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-83586-2