As a biodiversity hotspot, Indonesia hosts a high density of wild animals. However, human activities are bringing wild animals and humans into increasingly close proximity. Ecosystem degradation, caused by land-use change and overexploitation, and hunting and wildlife trade, common sources of income for local communities, increase human-wildlife interactions and create risks for human health and the environment. A major risk to human health is zoonotic spillover, the process by which pathogens in animals jump into people, which can then cause human disease. However, cost-effective interventions can greatly reduce the risk of spillover and must be implemented rapidly in zoonotic spillover hotspots.

This project aimed to catalyse action among Indonesian policymakers to implement spillover prevention policies. We strengthened their understanding of effective policy reform and action and fostereddialogue between relevantnational agencies. At the same time, we raised awareness and support for spillover prevention policy reform and action among G20 leaders through Indonesia’s G20 post-Presidency, as well as with the general public in the ASEAN region and East Asia. The project was co-led by Preventing Pandemics at the Source (PPATS) and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) in Indonesia, in partnership with the Indonesian NGO Alam Sehat Lestari (ASRI). 

Main Outcomes: 

• The project increased support and capacity for spillover prevention policy reform by strengthening policymaker engagement, enhancing inter-ministerial coordination, consulting key stakeholders, and producing targeted policy briefs and white papers.

• The team strengthened local biosecurity measures by establishing a meat transportation checkpoint in high-traffic areas and collaborating with local agriculture and animal health authorities.

• The project raised public awareness of spillover prevention across Southeast and East Asia by engaging with media outlets, training young journalists, producing social media content, and publishing 24 articles on zoonotic diseases and One Health.