"Experts and advocates warn of nickel mining’s risk to precious marine region of Indonesia" 31 January 2025

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — One of Earth’s most biodiverse marine regions is threatened by the expansion of nickel mining projects in Indonesia, according to a new report.

Satellite analysis and on-the-ground visits found a rapid increase in land given over to mining pits in Raja Ampat Regency, a group of tropical islands near West Papua, according to the report from Auriga Nusantara, an environmental and conservation organization in Indonesia.

A few degrees south of the equator, the islands are home to 75% of the world’s coral species and over 1,600 fish species, including critically endangered hawksbill sea turtles and vulnerable reef manta rays. The regency has at least nine marine protected areas spread over nearly 2 million hectares (4.9 million acres), and was named a UNESCO Global Geopark in 2023, recognizing the international value of its geological heritage.

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Auriga Nusantara’s report found that land used for mining in Raja Ampat grew by about 494 hectares (about 1,220 acres) from 2020 through 2024. That was about three times the rate of expansion from the previous five years. The total permit area for mining in Raja Ampat — all for nickel — is more than 22,420 hectares, or about 55,400 acres.

Felled trees and open pits of orange-brown gravel and earth scar the islands where mining has started, according to Auriga Nusantara. Sediment from the mines could also be seen along the islands’ coasts as it was carried away by the ocean’s current.

“As long as the nickel mining continues to operate, the sediment will destroy coral and its surrounding ocean ecosystem,” said Timer Manurung, the director of Auriga Nusantara. ”It’s really a threat for Raja Ampat, as the archipelago is known for ocean biodiversity and richness that makes it an international tourism destination.”

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Despite a March 2024 ruling by Indonesia’s constitutional court that small islands require special protection from abnormally dangerous activities — including mining — as they threaten ecosystems in vulnerable areas, mining continues to have a devastating impact on communities.

In a December 2024 written response to AP questions on why small islands were still being mined in Indonesia, Indonesia’s Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources said there is a “critical need for rigorous environmental impact assessments and sustainable development practices” for small islands.

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