To visit Indonesia responsibly, try to tread lightly as you go, with respect for both the land and the diverse cultures of its people.
Watch your use of water Water demand outstrips supply in much of Indonesia – even at seemingly green places like Bali. Take your hotel up on its offer to save water by not washing your sheets and towels every day. At the high end you can also forgo your own private plunge pool, or a pool altogether.
Don't hit the bottle Those bottles of Aqua (a top local brand of bottled water, owned by Danone) are convenient but they add up. The zillions of such bottles tossed away each year are a serious blight. Since tap water is unsafe, ask your hotel if you can refill from their huge containers of drinking water. Some enlightened businesses already offer this service.
Support environmentally aware businesses The number of businesses committed to good environmental practices is growing fast in Indonesia. Keep an eye out within this guide for the sustainable icon, which identifies environmentally savvy businesses.
Conserve power Turn off lights and air-con when not using them.
Bag the bags Refuse plastic bags – a major blight (and say no to plastic straws too).
Leave the animals be Don't swim with captive dolphins, ride elephants, and patronise attractions where wild animals are made to perform for crowds, interactions that have been identified by animal welfare experts as harmful to the animals. And don't try to pet, feed or otherwise interact with animals in the wild as it disrupts their natural behaviour and can make them sick.
The popularity of diving puts immense pressure on many sites. Consider the following tips when diving and help preserve the ecology and beauty of Indonesia's reefs:
Avoid touching living marine organisms with your body or dragging equipment across the reef. Never stand on corals.
Be conscious of your fins. The surge from heavy fin strokes near the reef can damage delicate organisms. When treading water in shallow reef areas, take care not to kick up clouds of sand. Settling sand can easily smother delicate reef organisms.
Practise and maintain proper buoyancy control. Major damage can be done by divers descending too fast and colliding with the reef.
Don't collect corals or shells.
Ensure that you collect all your rubbish and any litter you find as well. Plastics in particular are a serious threat to marine life.
Resist the temptation to feed fish.
The best dive operators will require that you adhere to the points above.
To help preserve the ecology and beauty of Indonesia, consider the following tips when hiking and trekking (good guides will already be following these principles):
Carry out all your rubbish. Don't overlook easily forgotten items, such as cigarette butts, and carry out rubbish left by others.
Never bury your rubbish: it can take years to decompose and digging encourages erosion. Buried rubbish will likely be dug up by animals, which may be injured or poisoned by it.
Minimise waste by taking minimal packaging and no more food than you will need. Take reusable containers or stuff sacks.
Sanitary napkins, tampons, condoms and toilet paper should be carried out. They decompose poorly.
Contamination of water sources by human faeces is a major problem. Where there are no toilets, dig a small hole 15cm (6in) deep and at least 100m (320ft) from any watercourse. Cover the waste with soil and a rock.
Don't use detergents or toothpaste in or near watercourses, even if they are biodegradable.
For personal washing, use biodegradable soap and a water container (or even a lightweight, portable basin) at least 50m (160ft) away from any watercourse.
Wash cooking utensils 50m (160ft) from watercourses using a scourer instead of detergent.
Stick to existing tracks.
If a track passes through a mud patch, walk through the patch so as not to increase its size.
Avoid removing the plant life that keeps topsoils in place.
Don't depend on open fires for cooking. The cutting of wood for fires in popular trekking areas can cause rapid deforestation. Cook on a lightweight kerosene, alcohol or Shellite (white gas) stove and avoid those powered by disposable butane gas canisters.
Fires may be acceptable below the tree line in areas that get very few visitors. If you light a fire, use an existing fireplace. Use only minimal, dead, fallen wood.
Ensure that you fully extinguish a fire after use.
Do not engage in or encourage hunting. Indonesia is full of endangered critters, which need all the help they can get to survive.
Don't buy items made from endangered species.
Discourage the presence of wildlife by not leaving food scraps behind you.
Do not feed the wildlife; it can make them dependent on handouts or seriously ill.
There are excellent opportunities for aspiring volunteers in Indonesia, but Lonely Planet does not endorse any organisations that we do not work with directly, so it is essential that you do your own thorough research before agreeing to volunteer with or donate to any organisation. A three-month commitment is recommended for working with children.
For many groups fundraising and cash donations are the best way to help. Some also can use skilled volunteers to work as English teachers and provide professional services such as medical care. A few offer paid volunteering, whereby volunteers pay for room and board and perform often menial tasks.
A good resource to find NGOs and volunteer opportunities on Bali is www.balispirit.com/ngos.
Alam Sehat Lestari (www.alamsehatlestari.org/volunteer) Accepts skilled medical and conservation volunteers to help protect and restore Kalimantan's rainforest.
Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation (www.orangutan.or.id) Accepts volunteers for its orangutan and sun bear rehabilitation and reforestation programs.
East Bali Poverty Project (%0361-410 071; www.eastbalipovertyproject.org) Works to help children in the impoverished mountain villages of east Bali. Uses English teachers.
Friends of the National Parks Foundation (%0361-977 978; www.fnpf.org) Has volunteer programs on Nusa Penida off Bali and Kalimantan.
IDEP (Indonesian Development of Education & Permaculture; %0361-294993; www.idepfoundation.org) Has projects across Indonesia; works on environmental projects, disaster planning and community improvement.
ProFauna (www.profauna.net) A large nonprofit animal-protection organisation operating across Indonesia; has been active in protecting sea turtles.
Project Hope Sumba (www.projecthopesumba.org) Works on Sumba to improve access to clean water, education, healthcare etc.
Sea Sanctuaries Trust (www.seasanctuaries.org) Diving-based marine conservation volunteering in Raja Ampat.
Smile Foundation of Bali Organises surgery to correct facial deformities.
Yayasan Rama Sesana Dedicated to improving reproductive health for women across Bali.
Yayasan Bumi Sehat Operates an internationally recognised clinic and gives reproductive services to disadvantaged women in Ubud; accepts donated time from medical professionals. The founder, Robin Lim, has had international recognition.
The following agencies may have information about long-term paid or volunteer work in Indonesia:
Australian Volunteers International (www.australianvolunteers.com) Organises all manner of programs, with many in Indonesia.
Global Volunteers (www.globalvolunteers.org) Arranges professional and paid volunteer work for US citizens.
Global Vision International (www.gviusa.com) Organises short-term volunteer opportunities; has offices in Australia, the UK and the US.
Go Abroad (www.goabroad.com) Lists mostly paid volunteer work.
Voluntary Service Overseas (www.vso.org.uk) British overseas volunteer program that accepts qualified volunteers from other countries.
Volunteer Service Abroad (www.vsa.org.nz) Organises professional contracts for New Zealanders.