A new perspectives paper by Professor Krizler C. Tanalgo of the Eco/Con Lab highlights the rich yet under-documented biodiversity of Southeast Asia and the urgent need for better, fairer data sharing to protect it.

Published in Biological Conservation, a top journal in ecology and conservation, the study reveals that just four countries: Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines, account for nearly 80% of biodiversity records in the region. Even more striking, over 40% of these records are contributed by researchers and institutions based outside Southeast Asia. Much of the data comes from the public. Citizen science platforms like eBird and iNaturalist now power over 60% of available biodiversity records, proving that everyday people are essential to tracking species and environmental change.

However, the study finds serious gaps in data coverage and accessibility, particularly in countries where local research is scarce and species cross national borders.

Professor Tanalgo argues it’s time for a data culture shift. “We need open, FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) data sharing to become the norm,” he says. To push this, the study proposes a practical open-NOTE framework, urging Southeast Asian countries to Normalise, Organise, Train, and Engage in open biodiversity data practices. “This isn’t just about numbers,” Tanalgo adds. “It’s about making sure no species, no habitat, and no country is left behind in the effort to protect our natural world.”

Key Findings:

1. Thailand leads with 28% of biodiversity records, followed by Indonesia (19%), Malaysia (18%), and the Philippines (13%).

2. Citizen science powers the data surge — eBird alone contributes 56% of records.

3. 3. 41% of data is from outside Southeast Asia, highlighting the need for stronger regional research presence.

4. 4. 30% of terrestrial vertebrate records overlap with Protected Areas, emphasising the importance of open data for conservation planning.