Geography of Timor-Leste

{{Short description|none}}  {{Country geography | name = Timor-Leste | map = East_Timor_Satellite.jpg | continent = Asia | region = Southeast Asia *Lesser Sunda Islands | coordinates = {{Coord|8|50|S|125|55|E|}} | area ranking = 154th | km area = 14,919 | percent land = 100 | km coastline = 706 | borders = Indonesia: {{convert|253|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} | highest point = Tatamailau ({{convert|2963|m|ft|0|abbr=on|disp=or}}) | lowest point = Timor Sea, Savu Sea, and Banda Sea {{convert|0|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} | longest river = Loes River {{convert|80|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} | largest lake = Ira Lalaro {{convert|1.9|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=on}} | climate = Tropical | terrain = Mountainous and rugged | natural resources = Gold, petroleum, natural gas, manganese, marble | natural hazards = Landslides are common; earthquakes; and tsunamis. | environmental issues = deforestation and soil erosion | exclusive economic zone = {{convert|70,326|km2|mi2|abbr=on}} }}

thumb|300px|right|Detailed map of Timor-Leste

Timor-Leste includes the mountainous eastern half of Timor, the Ocussi-Ambeno region on the northwest portion of the island of Timor, and the islands of Atauro and Jaco. The country is located northwest of Australia in the Lesser Sunda Islands at the eastern end of the Indonesian Archipelago. 'Timor' is a Portuguese derivation of 'Timor', the Malay word for "Orient"; the island of Timor is part of the Malay Archipelago and is the largest and easternmost of the Lesser Sunda Islands. Timor-Leste is the only Asian nation to lie entirely within the Southern Hemisphere.{{citation needed|date=June 2016}} The Loes River is the longest with a length of {{convert|80|km|mi|0|abbr=on}}. This river system covers an area of {{convert|2184|km2|mi2|0|abbr=on}}. It is a small country with a land size of {{convert|14,919|km2|mi2|0|abbr=on}}. The exclusive economic zone is {{convert|70,326|km2|mi2|abbr=on}}.<ref>[http://www.seaaroundus.org/eez/summaryInfo.aspx?eez=608# Exclusive Economic Zones] – Sea Around Us Project – Fisheries, Ecosystems & Biodiversity – Data and Visualization.</ref>

== Statistics == ; Area :* Total: {{convert|14,874|sqkm|sqmi|0|lk=on}} :** ''country rank in the world'': 154th :* Land: {{convert|14,874|sqkm|sqmi|0}} :* Water: 0 km2

; Area comparative :* Australia comparative: slightly less than {{sfrac|2|9}} the size of Tasmania :* Canada comparative: slightly more than {{sfrac|1|4}} the size of Nova Scotia :* United Kingdom comparative: slightly larger than Northern Ireland :* United States comparative: slightly larger than Connecticut :* European Union comparative: slightly less than {{sfrac|1|2}} the size of Belgium

; Land boundaries :* Total: {{convert|2538|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} :* Border countries: Indonesia ({{convert|253|km|mi|0|abbr=on|disp=or}})

; Coastline: :{{convert|706|km|mi|0|abbr=on}}

; Maritime claims :* Territorial sea: {{convert|12|nmi|mi km|0|lk=in}} :* Contiguous zone: {{convert|24|nmi|mi km|0}} :* Exclusive economic zone: {{convert|70,326|km2|mi2|abbr=on}} and {{convert|200|nmi|mi km|0}}

=== Elevation extremes === * Lowest point: Timor Sea, Savu Sea, and Banda Sea 0 m * Highest point: Tatamailau ({{convert|2963|m|ft|0|abbr=on|disp=or}})

; Natural resources: :Gold, petroleum, natural gas, manganese, marble

; Land use :* Arable land: 10.1% :* Permanent crops: 4.9% :* Permanent pasture: 10.1% :* Forest: 49.1% :* Other: 25.8% (2011)

; Irrigated land: :{{convert|346.5|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=on}} (2003)

== Climate == {{Further|Effects of climate change on small island countries}} : The islands have a tropical savanna climate, bordering on a tropical monsoon climate; hot and humid with distinct rainy and dry seasons. Tropical cyclones do occur along with floods.

{{Weather box | width = auto | metric first = yes | single line = yes | location = Dili (1914-1963) | temperature colour = | Jan record high C = 36.0 | Feb record high C = 35.5 | Mar record high C = 36.6 | Apr record high C = 36.0 | May record high C = 35.7 | Jun record high C = 36.5 | Jul record high C = 34.1 | Aug record high C = 35.0 | Sep record high C = 34.0 | Oct record high C = 34.5 | Nov record high C = 36.0 | Dec record high C = 35.5 | year record high C = 36.6 | Jan high C = 31.3 | Feb high C = 31.1 | Mar high C = 31.2 | Apr high C = 31.5 | May high C = 31.3 | Jun high C = 30.7 | Jul high C = 30.2 | Aug high C = 30.1 | Sep high C = 30.3 | Oct high C = 30.5 | Nov high C = 31.4 | Dec high C = 31.1 | year high C = 30.9 | Jan mean C = 27.7 | Feb mean C = 27.6 | Mar mean C = 27.4 | Apr mean C = 27.4 | May mean C = 27.0 | Jun mean C = 26.8 | Jul mean C = 25.5 | Aug mean C = 25.1 | Sep mean C = 25.4 | Oct mean C = 26.0 | Nov mean C = 27.2 | Dec mean C = 27.4 | year mean C = 26.6 | Jan low C = 24.1 | Feb low C = 24.1 | Mar low C = 23.5 | Apr low C = 23.5 | May low C = 22.8 | Jun low C = 21.9 | Jul low C = 20.8 | Aug low C = 20.1 | Sep low C = 20.5 | Oct low C = 21.5 | Nov low C = 23.0 | Dec low C = 23.6 | year low C = 22.4 | Jan record low C = 19.0 | Feb record low C = 16.2 | Mar record low C = 16.5 | Apr record low C = 18.2 | May record low C = 13.2 | Jun record low C = 14.5 | Jul record low C = 12.4 | Aug record low C = 11.8 | Sep record low C = 13.4 | Oct record low C = 16.1 | Nov record low C = 18.0 | Dec record low C = 16.7 | year record low C = 11.8 | rain colour = green | Jan rain mm = 139.5 | Feb rain mm = 138.7 | Mar rain mm = 132.7 | Apr rain mm = 104.3 | May rain mm = 74.9 | Jun rain mm = 58.4 | Jul rain mm = 20.1 | Aug rain mm = 12.1 | Sep rain mm = 9.0 | Oct rain mm = 12.8 | Nov rain mm = 61.4 | Dec rain mm = 144.9 | unit rain days = 1.0 mm | Jan rain days = 13 | Feb rain days = 13 | Mar rain days = 11 | Apr rain days = 9 | May rain days = 6 | Jun rain days = 4 | Jul rain days = 3 | Aug rain days = 1 | Sep rain days = 1 | Oct rain days = 2 | Nov rain days = 6 | Dec rain days = 11 | Jan humidity = 80 | Feb humidity = 82 | Mar humidity = 80 | Apr humidity = 77 | May humidity = 75 | Jun humidity = 72 | Jul humidity = 71 | Aug humidity = 70 | Sep humidity = 71 | Oct humidity = 72 | Nov humidity = 73 | Dec humidity = 77 | year humidity = 75 | Jan sun = 189.1 | Feb sun = 161.0 | Mar sun = 235.6 | Apr sun = 234.0 | May sun = 266.6 | Jun sun = 246.0 | Jul sun = 272.8 | Aug sun = 291.4 | Sep sun = 288.0 | Oct sun = 297.6 | Nov sun = 270.0 | Dec sun = 220.1 | year sun = | Jand sun = 6.1 | Febd sun = 5.7 | Mard sun = 7.6 | Aprd sun = 7.8 | Mayd sun = 8.6 | Jund sun = 8.2 | Juld sun = 8.8 | Augd sun = 9.4 | Sepd sun = 9.6 | Octd sun = 9.6 | Novd sun = 9.0 | Decd sun = 7.1 | yeard sun = 8.1 | source 1 = Deutscher Wetterdienst<ref name = DWD> {{cite web | url = http://www.dwd.de/DWD/klima/beratung/ak/ak_973900_kt.pdf | title = Klimatafel von Díli, Insel Timor / Ost-Timor | work = Baseline climate means (1961-1990) from stations all over the world | publisher = Deutscher Wetterdienst | language = de | access-date = 29 January 2016}}</ref> }}

== Environment == ; Natural hazards: :Landslides are common; earthquakes; and tsunamis. ; ;Environment - current issues : : Widespread use of slash and burn agriculture has led to deforestation and soil erosion. ; Environment - international agreements: :Biodiversity, climate change, climate change-Kyoto Protocol, desertification

=== Fauna === {{More citations needed section|date=March 2025}} Timor-Leste Coral Reef|thumb Timor-Leste's fauna is diverse and contains a number of endemic and threatened species. The Timor and Wetar deciduous forests region, which covers the entire island, has 38 mammal species. Timor-Leste's two endemic mammal species are the Timor shrew and the Timorese horseshoe bat. The country's and region's largest mammal, the Javan rusa, and its only native marsupial, the Northern common cuscus, are both believed to have been introduced to the island in prehistoric times by settlers from the Lesser Sunda Islands and New Guinea, respectively. Other mammals found in Timor-Leste include the Crab-eating macaque, a large number of species of bats, and the aquatic mammal, the Dugong. Timor-Leste also has its own native horse breed, the Timor pony.

Timor-Leste's terrestrial biodiversity is most visible in its native bird species. As of 2022, a total of 289 bird species are found in Timor-Leste. Significantly threatened bird species include the endangered Timor green pigeon and Wetar ground dove and the critically endangered Yellow-crested cockatoo. Timor-Leste has an endemic subspecies of the Iris lorikeet, ''S. i. rubripileum''.

Along with the Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia and Australia, Timor-Leste is one of the countries located in the Coral Triangle, the site of the most biodiverse coral reefs in the world.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Unit |first=Biosafety |title=Main Details |url=https://www.cbd.int/countries/profile/?country=tl |access-date=2025-03-30 |website=www.cbd.int |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Timor-Leste |url=https://www.dugongseagrass.org/where-we-work/timor-leste/ |access-date=2025-03-30 |website=Dugong & Seagrass Hub |language=en-GB}}</ref> In particular, Atauro Island's coral reefs have been recognised as having the highest average fish biodiversity of any site surveyed, with reef sites off Atauro carrying an average of 253 different species.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Slezak |first=Michael |date=2016-08-17 |title=Atauro Island: scientists discover the most biodiverse waters in the world |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/aug/17/atauro-island-timor-leste-the-push-to-protect-the-most-biodiverse-waters-in-the-world |access-date=2025-03-30 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> The highest number of species recorded from a single site in Timor-Leste was 642 different fish species, ranking second out of surveyed sites after Indonesia's Raja Ampat Islands.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Little-known reef reveals wealth of unexpected riches, new species |url=https://www.conservation.org/blog/little-known-reef-reveals-wealth-of-unexpected-riches-new-species |access-date=2023-10-10 |website=www.conservation.org}}</ref>

Additionally, the reefs appeared to have suffered limited damage from coral bleaching and rising ocean temperatures compared to other sites in the Coral Triangle.<ref name="James">{{cite news |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-05-08/east-timor-coral-reefs-tourism-climate-change-bleaching/101015018 |title=East Timor's coral reefs are the most biodiverse in the world. Why are they surviving climate change? |last=Norman |first=James |work=ABC News |date=8 May 2022 |access-date=9 February 2023 |archive-date=9 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230209115633/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-05-08/east-timor-coral-reefs-tourism-climate-change-bleaching/101015018 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Kim |first1=Catherine J. S. |last2=Roelfsema |first2=Chris |last3=Dove |first3=Sophie |last4=Hoegh-Guldberg |first4=Ove |date=June 2022 |title=The Condition of Four Coral Reefs in Timor-Leste before and after the 2016–2017 Marine Heatwave |journal=Oceans |language=en |volume=3 |issue=2 |pages=147–171 |doi=10.3390/oceans3020012 |issn=2673-1924 |doi-access=free |bibcode=2022Oce.....3..147K }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2018-05-15 |title=Timor-Leste's incredible marine life – in pictures |language=en-GB |work=the Guardian |url=http://www.theguardian.com/environment/gallery/2018/may/15/timor-lestes-incredible-marine-life-in-pictures |access-date=2023-10-10 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> However, despite being in relatively pristine condition, the reefs remain threatened by climate change and habitat destruction, especially blast fishing. It is believed that this has most affected large marine species such as sharks; despite the diversity of the reefs, there were a significant lack of sharks recorded in the surveys of 2016.

Timor-Leste's isolation and lack of tourism are believed to have helped preserve the reefs, as opposed to tourist-heavy locales such as Bali, where the abundance of tourism has negatively affected the health of the reefs. The Timorese government and local residents of Atauro have made attempts to preserve the reefs through education of local citizens, rejecting harmful development projects, and placing emphasis on traditional laws of preserving nature, called ''Tara Bandu''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Collett |first=Richard |title=East Timor: A young nation reviving ancient laws |url=https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20210518-east-timor-a-young-nation-reviving-ancient-laws |access-date=2023-10-10 |website=www.bbc.com |date=19 May 2021 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Chan |first=Tiffany |date=2022-05-20 |title=Ataúro Island Revives a Conservation Tradition |url=https://www.gstcouncil.org/atauro-island-revives-a-conservation-tradition/ |access-date=2025-03-30 |website=GSTC |language=en-GB}}</ref>

===Forests=== === Tree cover extent and loss === Global Forest Watch publishes annual estimates of tree cover loss and 2000 tree cover extent derived from time-series analysis of Landsat satellite imagery in the Global Forest Change dataset.<ref name="GFWTLSdashboard">{{cite web |title=Timor-Leste Deforestation Rates & Statistics |website=Global Forest Watch |url=https://www.globalforestwatch.org/dashboards/country/TLS/ }}</ref><ref name="HansenEtAl2013">{{cite journal |last1=Hansen |first1=Matthew C. |last2=Potapov |first2=Peter V. |last3=Moore |first3=Rebecca |last4=Hancher |first4=Matt |last5=Turubanova |first5=Svetlana A. |last6=Tyukavina |first6=Alexandra |display-authors=3 |title=High-Resolution Global Maps of 21st-Century Forest Cover Change |journal=Science |volume=342 |issue=6160 |year=2013 |pages=850-853 |doi=10.1126/science.1244693 }}</ref><ref name="GFWTCLossAbout">{{cite web |title=Tree cover loss |website=Global Forest Watch Open Data Portal |url=https://data.globalforestwatch.org/documents/gfw::tree-cover-loss/about }}</ref><ref name="GFWTCCover2000About">{{cite web |title=Tree cover (2000) |website=Global Forest Watch Open Data Portal |url=https://data.globalforestwatch.org/documents/gfw::tree-cover-2000/about }}</ref> In this framework, tree cover refers to vegetation taller than 5 m (including natural forests and tree plantations), and tree cover loss is defined as the complete removal of tree cover canopy for a given year, regardless of cause.<ref name="GFRTreeCoverLoss2023">{{cite web |title=How much forest was lost in 2023? |website=Global Forest Review |url=https://gfr.wri.org/global-tree-cover-loss-data-2023 }}</ref>

For Timor-Leste, country statistics report cumulative tree cover loss of {{convert|33692|ha|km2|abbr=on}} from 2001 to 2024 (about 4.6% of its 2000 tree cover area).<ref name="GFWTLSdashboard" /> For tree cover density greater than 30%, country statistics report a 2000 tree cover extent of {{convert|726235|ha|km2|abbr=on}}.<ref name="GFWTLSdashboard" /> The charts and table below display this data. In simple terms, the annual loss number is the area where tree cover disappeared in that year, and the extent number shows what remains of the 2000 tree cover baseline after subtracting cumulative loss. Forest regrowth is not included in the dataset.<ref name="GFWTLSdashboard" /><ref name="GFRTreeCoverLoss2023" />

{{ChartDirect |type=bar |align=center |width=100% |x=2001,2002,2003,2004,2005,2006,2007,2008,2009,2010,2011,2012,2013,2014,2015,2016,2017,2018,2019,2020,2021,2022,2023,2024 |xType=integer |y1=6.77,16.05,6.91,20.62,13.11,29.30,15.57,8.34,26.34,6.50,14.64,18.88,4.62,18.83,8.63,12.96,17.14,12.43,15.01,14.59,14.31,11.13,14.78,9.46 |y1Title=Annual tree cover loss (km²) |caption=Annual tree cover loss in Timor-Leste, 2001–2024.<ref name="GFWTLSdashboard" /> }}

{{ChartDirect |type=line |align=center |width=100% |x=2001,2002,2003,2004,2005,2006,2007,2008,2009,2010,2011,2012,2013,2014,2015,2016,2017,2018,2019,2020,2021,2022,2023,2024 |xType=integer |y1=7255.58,7239.53,7232.62,7212.00,7198.89,7169.59,7154.02,7145.68,7119.34,7112.84,7098.20,7079.32,7074.70,7055.87,7047.24,7034.28,7017.14,7004.71,6989.70,6975.11,6960.80,6949.67,6934.89,6925.43 |y1Title=Extent minus cumulative loss (km²) |caption=Tree cover extent in 2000 minus cumulative tree cover loss in Timor-Leste, 2001–2024 (loss-only residual; does not account for gain).<ref name="GFWTLSdashboard" /> }}

{| class="wikitable sortable collapsible collapsed" style="text-align:right;" |+ Annual tree cover extent and loss<ref name="GFWTLSdashboard" /> ! Year ! Tree cover extent (km2){{efn|name=regrowth|This residual measure does not include forest regrowth.}} ! Annual tree cover loss (km2) |- | 2001 || 7,255.58 || 6.77 |- | 2002 || 7,239.53 || 16.05 |- | 2003 || 7,232.62 || 6.91 |- | 2004 || 7,212.00 || 20.62 |- | 2005 || 7,198.89 || 13.11 |- | 2006 || 7,169.59 || 29.30 |- | 2007 || 7,154.02 || 15.57 |- | 2008 || 7,145.68 || 8.34 |- | 2009 || 7,119.34 || 26.34 |- | 2010 || 7,112.84 || 6.50 |- | 2011 || 7,098.20 || 14.64 |- | 2012 || 7,079.32 || 18.88 |- | 2013 || 7,074.70 || 4.62 |- | 2014 || 7,055.87 || 18.83 |- | 2015 || 7,047.24 || 8.63 |- | 2016 || 7,034.28 || 12.96 |- | 2017 || 7,017.14 || 17.14 |- | 2018 || 7,004.71 || 12.43 |- | 2019 || 6,989.70 || 15.01 |- | 2020 || 6,975.11 || 14.59 |- | 2021 || 6,960.80 || 14.31 |- | 2022 || 6,949.67 || 11.13 |- | 2023 || 6,934.89 || 14.78 |- | 2024 || 6,925.43 || 9.46 |}

====REDD+ reference level and monitoring==== Under the UNFCCC REDD+ framework, Timor-Leste has submitted a national forest reference level (FRL). On the UNFCCC REDD+ Web Platform, the country's 2023 submission is listed as having an assessed reference level, while a national strategy, safeguards information and a national forest monitoring system are all listed as "not reported".<ref name="UNFCCC_REDD_TLS">{{cite web |title=Timor-Leste (TLS) - Submissions provided by Country |website=REDD+ Web Platform |publisher=United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) |url=https://redd.unfccc.int/submissions/by-country/country_detail/tls.html}}</ref>

The first assessed FRL, submitted in 2023, covered the REDD+ activities "reducing emissions from deforestation" and "enhancement of forest carbon stocks" at national scale. Using a 2017-2021 reference period, the original submission proposed -215,868 t CO2 eq per year, revised during the technical assessment to an assessed FRL of -196,723 t CO2 eq per year.<ref name="UNFCCC_TAR_TLS_2023">{{cite report |title=Report on the technical assessment of the proposed forest reference level of Timor-Leste submitted in 2023 |publisher=United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) |date=21 March 2025 |id=FCCC/TAR/2023/TLS |url=https://unfccc.int/sites/default/files/resource/tar2023_TLS.pdf}}</ref> The technical assessment states that it included above-ground biomass and below-ground biomass, reported CO2 only, and used a forest definition of at least 0.5 hectares, 15 percent canopy cover, and trees of actual or potential height greater than 5 metres.<ref name="UNFCCC_TAR_TLS_2023" />

== Notes == {{notelist}}

== References == {{reflist}} *''Much of the material in this article is adapted from the CIA World Factbook 2000 and 2012.''

==Further reading== * {{Cite book |last1=Crosby |first1=Michael J |title=Important Bird Areas in Timor-Leste |date=2007 |publisher=BirdLife International |isbn=9780946888597}} * {{Cite journal |last1=Kaiser |first1=Hinrich |last2=Carvalho |first2=Venancio Lopes |last3=Ceballos |first3=Jester |last4=Freed |first4=Paul |last5=Heacox |first5=Scott |last6=Lester |first6=Barbara |last7=Richards |first7=Stephen J. |last8=Trainor |first8=Colin R. |last9=Sanchez |first9=Caitlin |last10=O’Shea |first10=Mark |date=20 June 2011 |title=The herpetofauna of Timor-Leste: a first report |journal=ZooKeys |issue=109 |pages=19–86 |doi=10.3897/zookeys.109.1439 |issn=1313-2970 |pmc=3118819 |pmid=21852932 |doi-access=free }} * {{Cite journal |last1=Kaiser |first1=Hinrich |last2=Sanchez |first2=Caitlin |last3=Heacox |first3=Scott |last4=Kathriner |first4=Andrew |last5=Ribeiro |first5=Agivedo Varela |last6=Soares |first6=Zito Afranio |last7=Araujo |first7=Luis Lemos de |last8=Mecke |first8=Sven |last9=O’Shea |first9=Mark |date=1 August 2013 |title=First report on the herpetofauna of Ataúro Island, Timor Leste |url=https://checklist.pensoft.net/article/18718/ |journal=Check List |volume=9 |issue=4 |pages=752–762 |doi=10.15560/9.4.752 |issn=1809-127X |doi-access=free }} * {{Cite journal |last1=O'Shea |first1=Mark |last2=Sanchez |first2=Caitlin |last3=Kathriner |first3=Andrew |last4=Mecke |first4=Sven |last5=Carvalho |first5=Venancio Lopes |last6=Ribeiro |first6=Agivedo Varela |last7=Soares |first7=Zito Afranio |last8=Araujo |first8=Luis Lemos de |last9=Kaiser |first9=Hinrich |date=25 June 2015 |title=Herpetological Diversity of Timor-Leste: Updates and a Review of Species Distributions |url=http://www.ahr-journal.com/oa/DArticle.aspx?type=view&id=20150009 |journal=Asian Herpetological Research |volume=6 |issue=2 |pages=72–131 |doi=10.16373/j.cnki.ahr.140066 |issn=2095-0357}} * {{Cite journal |last1=Sanchez |first1=Caitlin |last2=Carvalho |first2=Venancio Lopes |last3=Kathriner |first3=Andrew |last4=O'Shea |first4=Mark |last5=Kaiser |first5=Hinrich |date=January 2012 |title=First Report on the Herpetofauna of the Oecusse District, an Exclave of Timor-Leste |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/259910612 |journal=Herptology Notes |volume=5 |pages=137–149}}

Category:Geography of Timor-Leste