Geography and Environment

Geography and Environment of Timor-Leste

Terrain, climate, natural resources, hazards, and environmental conditions of Timor-Leste.

Natural Resources: Gold, petroleum, natural gas, manganese, marble, and sandalwood. Timor-Leste's economy is heavily dependent on petroleum and natural gas, which are extracted from offshore fields in the Timor Sea, including the Greater Sunrise field — one of the largest undeveloped hydrocarbon reserves in the region. Oil and gas revenues account for the vast majority of government income and export earnings. Beyond hydrocarbons, the country also possesses deposits of gold, manganese, and marble, as well as significant forest resources including sandalwood, which has historically been an important trade commodity.
Natural Hazards: floods and landslides are common; earthquakes, tsunamis, tropical cyclones

Current Environmental Issues: widespread use of slash and burn agriculture has led to deforestation and soil erosion
International Agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Detailed geography