At the end of 2022, we first met with Iqram – who later became our member – and with students from UNHAS from Makassar, the largest city on the island of Sulawesi. The first meeting was virtual, together we organized a two-day webinar on the topic of protecting the freshwaters of Indonesia and especially Sulawesi. But already in 2023, we met directly on the shores of Lake Matano and again on the grounds of UNHAS for an impromptu lecture.
Originally an informal group of biology students focused intensively on exploring Lake Matano and its endemic invertebrates. They received grants for monitoring and the first educational campaign in local schools. They founded their own conservation organization TARSIUS and this is what they say about themselves:
Officially founded in 2024, Tapak Diversitas Hayati Nusantara (TARSIUS) is a youth-led organisation based in Makassar, Sulawesi. TARSIUS is dedicated to protecting threatened biodiversity by combining scientific research with community-based action. We believe that meaningful conservation begins with knowledge, and succeeds through local stewardship. TARSIUS is keen to connect science, people, and policy to create lasting impact for nature and communities.
We were in the field together again in 2024 and 2025, so it is natural that we proudly announce our partnership. The young people of Sulawesi are the hope for the lakes and rivers, and we are happy to support them. We learn from and complement each other.
Markéta Rejlková
