Timor-Leste

Timor-Leste is an island nation in Southeastern Asia, primarily located on the eastern half of the island of Timor at the edge of the Malay Peninsula. The island’s western half is part of Indonesia. Timor-Leste also includes smaller islands, as well as part of Timor’s northwest region. Timor-Leste’s terrain is primarily mountainous. Most of the country is used for human activities, in its majority by rainfed agriculture. Timor-Leste has high biodiversity rarity of terrestrial land vertebrates at a global scale. When analysed as single taxons, the rarity of amphibians, birds, mammals and reptiles is also high. The rarity of marine fish and mammals is also high. Challenges to biodiversity include air pollution; water quality and scarcity; soil degradation and erosion; and deforestation.