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Indonesia is one of the world's most biodiverse nations, with up to 5000+ plant species per 10,000 km² (compared to 3000 plant species per 10,000 km² in the U.S.). Situated within the Malesian floristic regions, Indonesia is a megadiverse botanical crossroad, linking the floras of India, Southeast Asia, and Australia. Ecosystems range from mangroves along the coast to the alpine slopes of the highest mountains, with high rates of endemism. As in many tropical regions, the biodiversity of Indonesia faces threats from development, mining, logging, and palm oil plantations, yet new species continue to be described from the region. Herbarium specimen digitization aids research to describe new species and construct conservation strategies to protect what remains.

This project is supported by NSF award 2100755.

_{References:
Barthlott, W., J. Mutke, D. Rafiqpoor, G. Kier, and H. Kreft. 2005. Global Centers of Vascular Plant Diversity. Nova Acta Leopoldina, 92: 61-83.}