The Ecology of Sulawesi distills for the first time the information found in over 1,600 sources scholarly documents relevant to an understanding of the full range of natural and man-made ecosystems on the island—many of them available up to now only in Dutch, German or Indonesian—as well as the results of research conducted specifically for the book. It is hoped that it will prove useful to resource managers, ecologists, environmental scientists and local government personnel, and be enlightening to Sulawesi's inhabitants and visitors.

Sulawesi is one of the least-known islands of Indonesia, and wise environmental management, including the proper assessment of environmental management, including the proper assessment of environmental impacts arising from development projects and other activities, is currently very difficult.