Indonesia is the country with the fifth-most bird species in the world. More than 1,600 species of bird live in the archipelago, and 380 of them are native to nowhere else. Of those endemic species, 13 are critically endangered. Jihad, a staffer of Burung Indonesia Bird Conservation, said many of the birds lived in especially small areas, making them more vulnerable to habitat disruption. "Birds that are only distributed on Sangihe Island like anis bentet (shrike thrush) face the high risk of extinction when the island is subjected to land conversion," he said.

Less than five minutes from Tomohon, North Sulawesi, rows of wooden houses stand on stilts along a two-kilometer stretch of road. There are small two-room abodes and larger five-room constructions. But none are occupied. Visitors can enter freely and, if they like what they see, bring the buildings home.

West Sulawesi's Got Talent

More than 10 gunny sacks of cacao kernels were arranged in a row in the front room of Comextra Maora's storehouse in Maumere on the island of Flores in Sikka regency, East Nusa Tenggara. Agus Layni, coordinating team leader of the cacao exporting company, told two employees to examine the sacks' contents. He just wanted to make sure there were no sticking kernels and that they were intact and without epidermis and fungi.

Maria Village, Protector of the Uma Lengge

A smooth and shiny concrete road extends from Dasan Lekong hamlet to the center of Barejulat village, West Nusa Tenggara. It covers a distance of only 600 meters. However, for Efendi, a driver delivering gallon tubes of drinking water, the village's big problem has been solved. "Formerly, my truck frequently got stuck in waterlogged mud holes," he said. Local people no longer need to take a detour on rainy days.