Palu, October 22nd, 2024 — Several civil society organizations from East Kalimantan, Sulawesi, and North Maluku held discussions in accordance to the 16th Conference of the Parties (COP 16) of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD) in Cali, Colombia, from October 21st to November 1st, 2024.
The civil society organizations held a meeting ahead of the Biodiversity Conference, which took place on Friday (October 11) in Palu. The meeting was attended by Aksi Ekologi dan Emansipasi Rakyat (AEER), Walhi (Indonesian Environmental Forum) Central Sulawesi, Walhi South Sulawesi, the Mining Advocacy Network (Jatam) East Kalimantan, Yayasan Tanah Merdeka (YTM), Forest Watch Indonesia (FWI), as well as local organizations such as the Yayasan Komiu, Wallacea Association, Fakawele Community, and the Save Sagea Coalition. During the meeting, the civil society emphasized the importance of biodiversity management amidst the challenges of the energy transition and the impacts of the expansion of transition mineral mining industries, especially nickel.
AEER urged the government to reduce the size of nickel mining concessions and halt mining activities that damage biodiversity on small islands such as Obi Island, Halmahera, Gebe, and Waigeo Island, which are vulnerable to ecosystem damage. AEER Coordinator, Pius Ginting, also emphasized that transition minerals need to reduce coal use as an energy source, as the coal used contributes to the destruction of species ecosystems. He stated, “In Kalimantan, for example, the overlap between coal mining areas and High Conservation Value Areas (KBA) has reached 1.8% of the total 6.63 million hectares. The same situation occurs with nickel mines in Central Sulawesi (5.4%) and North Maluku (2.7%). Energy transition cannot only focus on low-carbon emission targets without considering ecological impacts. We see in Central Sulawesi and South Sulawesi that the nickel industry has caused serious environmental damage in coastal and inland areas, destroying the livelihoods of local communities.”
Based on field observations conducted by AEER in Morowali in August 2024 and the results of a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) in Palu, at least 21 endangered species are found in nickel mining areas, including mountain anoa (Bubalus quarlesi), hornbill (Rhyticeros cassidix), and babirusa (Babyrousa babyrussa). This was further confirmed by Yayasan Komiu (Kompas Peduli Hutan), which also highlighted the threats to rare species due to nickel mining. According to Gifvents, Director of Yayasan Komiu, mining activities that utilize coastal land also worsen the damage to mangrove ecosystems. Even though mangrove ecosystems play an important role in carbon storage.
Involvement of Local and Indigenous Communities in Decision-Making Processes
Yayasan Tanah Merdeka called for greater involvement of local and indigenous communities in planning and decision-making process related to mining. Many indigenous communities in Central Halmahera, Morowali, and North Morowali have land overlapping with nickel industry areas, and they often face criminalization for defending their land rights. According to Article 8 of Law 32/2024, forests belonging to indigenous peoples can be designated as Preservation Areas, with the condition that ownership and management remain with the community in order to protect their rights.
According to Richard, Director of Yayasan Tanah Merdeka, ecosystem destruction can affect local communities living around the area. Environmental damage also leads to conflicts between humans and wildlife. “In Morowali, the Taa (Wana) community has used various types of wood, such as bitti wood (Vitex cofassus), damar (Agathis alba), and kumea (Manilkara celebica) for centuries as part of their life. However, the massive impact of mining threatens the sustainability of these resources,” said Richard.
Forest Watch Indonesia also explored the relationship between the suffering of indigenous communities and the presence of the nickel industry, from the mines to industrial areas in Halmahera, North Maluku, accompanied by corrupt practices in the process. Various land conflicts continue between the communities and companies, aided by security forces. Indigenous communities have been powerless, as experienced by Librek, a resident of Gemaf Village, who protested against PT Indonesia Weda Bay Industrial Park (IWIP). The company took over his land without payment.
Loss of livelihood space also affects other indigenous communities in Halmahera. For example, in Weda, Central Halmahera, the industrial mining permit for nickel mining to the processing plant caused the Sawai Indigenous Community to lose their livelihood space. At least four Sawai Indigenous Communities are within the PT IWIP concession, namely in the Lelilef Woebulen Village, Lelilef Sawai Village, Gemaf Village, and Sagea Village. FWI Campaigner, Anggi Prayoga, stated, “The nickel industry, besides destroying forests, has also taken away the living space of indigenous communities. This dirty practice cannot be justified in the global climate change agenda.”
Concrete Steps Moving Forward
Yusman, Head of Walhi Central Sulawesi, stated, “In Central Sulawesi, the environmental damage caused by nickel mining is very concerning, especially in coastal areas and small islands. If this is not stopped soon, we will lose invaluable biodiversity and damage ecosystems that support the livelihoods of thousands of local communities.”
Walhi South Sulawesi also emphasized the importance of maintaining conservation areas and biodiversity amidst industrial pressures. According to Muhammad Al Amin, Director of Walhi South Sulawesi, Indonesia can learn from coal mining in East Kalimantan, which has severely damaged the ecosystems there. “The destruction in East Kalimantan due to coal mining should serve as a valuable lesson for us, so that the destructive impact would not be transferred to Sulawesi and North Maluku in the Wallacea region. We need concrete steps moving forward, including utilizing international negotiation spaces to discuss biodiversity protection in Eastern Indonesia.”
Jatam East Kalimantan also stressed the need for a real and clear energy transition. According to Mareta, Director of Jatam East Kalimantan, there needs to be concrete action from the government, such as halting false energy transition models that still rely on coal as a source for dangerous industries like nickel. This false transition also contributes to the loss of important species for the ecosystem in East Kalimantan, which supplies coal, and in Eastern Indonesia, which serves as a transition hub for the industry. This forum can also push the government to consider fair production and consumption in the energy transition chain. “COP 16 UNCBD could be the right moment to provide important input regarding findings from Indonesia (in this FGD), to urge an evaluation and audit of the systems and companies involved”, she explained.
Therefore, civil society organizations highlighted the need for mining activities and transition mineral industries in Indonesia to align with several points from the “Global Biodiversity Framework” (KM-GBF, Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework). Several points of KM-GBF, such as points 2, 4, 7, 15, and 18, will be key points of attention raised by Indonesian CSOs attending COP 16. Global attention and support for the protection of Indonesia’s biodiversity are hoped to further encourage the Indonesian government and foreign businesses in the transition mineral industry to consistently implement the KM-GBF.