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s archeologists search for the remains of a lost city in the deep seas of the Indonesian archipelago, and a labor standoff threatens to bring the capital to a halt, the age-old principle of Gotong Royong — working together toward a common goal — rings truer than ever, connecting past to present.

In the last 20 years, Indonesia has grown to become the world’s third-largest democracy and the economy has developed to become a middle-income country. These achievements have been driven by a common determination and dedication to a just and prosperous nation that both values and provides for its people.

However, in the quest of growth, it is easy to lose sight of the impacts our choices have on people and places that seem so far away.

As the economy and population continue to grow, so do the demands on all that the planet provides — from timber and fish, to the water we drink and the air we breathe. The manner in which we have kept pace with these demands has devastated terrestrial and marine ecosystems around the world. As a result, we have witnessed the collapse of fisheries, dwindling fresh water supplies and soil so depleted of nutrients it can no longer support agricultural production.

Reversing these trends will require concerted global action and a profound change from business as usual. Fortunately, Indonesia has been blessed with an abundance of natural wealth. But the impacts of climate change — rising sea levels, temperatures and acidity — threaten our coral reefs, fresh water and food security, and ongoing development pressures continue to have devastating impacs on our forests.

Perhaps that is why Indonesia is at the forefront of global action.

From the President’s commitment to reduce Indonesia’s carbon emissions by 26 percent while maintaining growth at 7 percent, to the announcement of the Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs Fisheries and Food Security backed by six nations, Indonesia has re-doubled its political commitment to balancing economic needs with the imperative of sustaining healthy ecosystems for future generations.

Together with partners from various sectors and places, Indonesia has made meaningful contributions, including in the establishment of marine protected areas covering 6.8 million hectares, and leadership in addressing global climate change, including the Berau Forest Carbon Program, a subnational demonstration project designed to help lay a strong, transparent foundation for REDD+ in both Indonesia and globally.

From seaweed farming and mangrove restoration on Nusa Penida Island, to forest protection and monitoring in Wehea Forest, East Kalimantan, communities are establishing home-grown sustainable economies that take advantage of growing consumer interest in social and ecological responsibility.

Today The Nature Conservancy celebrates 20 years of conservation partnership in Indonesia. Of the many things we have learned along the way, the most valuable lesson of all is the critical importance of Gotong Royong.

As an NGO, we recognize our role in both helping to spark these nascent shifts toward a more sustainable way of life and providing the tools and technical support to get them off of the ground. But the large-scale change needed to translate “sustainable development” from idea to action requires the kind of leadership and broad participation that any one organization or sector of society is simply unable to provide on its own.

After 20 years of testing and demonstrating sustainable economies on the ground, we know that this can be done. The shift from over-exploitation of our lands and waters to a truly “green” economy is no longer a question of “how?”, but of “why not?”

The answer is not simple, as what is best for all of society is often challenged by diverse interests

With its wealth of natural resources and growing economy, Indonesia has an opportunity to set an example for the rest of the world

Looking forward, we need strong public policies at all levels of government that reward sustainability and discourage destructive use and management across sectors. The Ministry of Forestry’s introduction of the Sistem Verifikasi Legalitas Kayu or SVLK, a credible timber legality assurance system and the resulting shift toward responsible management across the forest sector, is an encouraging example of what is possible.

The private sector, too, must share the responsibility of sustainability. It is time to look beyond short-term gains and seek the long-term revenue of a sustainably conducted business. The Lesser Sunda Sustainable Fisheries Initiative — a joint-venture that teams up fishing company PT Bali Seafood International, universities and other stakeholders in the region — is an exciting example of public-private partnership that offers a new business model for the sustainable management of fisheries in Indonesia.

And last, but certainly not least, urban populations and the next generation of consumers and decision-makers must be inspired to make sustainable lifestyle choices and encouraged to get actively involved in efforts to promote sustainability throughout their communities. This can be achieved through environmental education, targeted marketing and awareness raising campaigns and simply by setting an example for others to follow.

This decade urgently requires a transformation from “business as usual” toward green, low-carbon growth, and conservation leadership. We are already seeing positive changes in this direction. In the spirit of Gotong Royong, we look forward to another 20 years of conservation partnership, including broader and deeper involvement from the public and private sectors, as well as from individual citizens. We hope you will join us.

Arwandrija Rukma is The Nature Conservancy Indonesia Country Representative. Charles Bedford is Asia-Pacific Regional managing director of The Nature Conservancy.