Plastic pollution and conservation biology in South Sulawesi (Indonesia)

The marine plastic pollution has been the focus of extensive attention from the public and scientific community. Terrestrial ecosystems, however, have received significantly less attention, and we know surprisingly little about plastic distribution in terrestrial environments and its impact on terrestrial wildlife. Indonesia is one of the largest plastic waste producers in the world and simultaneously home of the Wallacea biodiversity hotspot, which is inhabited by several endemic and endangered species, including moor macaques (Macaca maura). Working with in-country collaborators, this project examines the extent to which macaques are affected by plastic pollution and how people perceive these interactions in order to identify potential problems and workable, sustainable solutions.