Indonesia is a biodiversity hotspot and the high density of wild animals and the destruction of the ecosystems due to land-use change and overexploitation, force wild animals and humans to live closer and closer together. Furthermore, hunting and wildlife trade is a common source of income for the local communities. This rising interaction between the people and wildlife brings various health risks and environmental damage. The risks of spillover from wildlife trade come in the form of pathogens that can lead to zoonosis diseases. Cost effective actions can steeply reduce the risk of pathogen spill over and must be implemented rapidly in zoonotic spill over hotspots.

This project aimed to catalyse action by Indonesian policymakers to implement spill over prevention policies, through strengthening their understanding of effective policy reforms and actions, and the dialogue among the relevant national agencies to effectively deliver these reforms. At the same time, we raised awareness and support about spill over prevention policy reforms and actions among G20 leaders through Indonesia’s G20 post-Presidency, as well as in the ASEAN region and East Asia. It is co-led by Preventing Pandemics at the Source and the Wildlife Conservation Society in Indonesia, in partnership with ASRI. 

Main Outcome: 

• The project reduced zoonotic spillover risks and improved response capacities by strengthening policymakers’ support, enhancing inter-ministerial coordination, consulting key stakeholders, and producing targeted policy briefs and white papers. 

• A meat transportation checkpoint was established in high-traffic areas through collaboration with local agriculture and animal health authorities, improving biosecurity measures. 

• To boost awareness, the project engaged with media, organised a Young Journalist Training, produced social media content, and facilitated internal knowledge exchange and published 24 articles addressing zoonotic diseases and One Health.