Indonesia’s mining boom is fundamentally altering its landscapes and communities, particularly on the island of Kabaena, where the once crystal blue waters have turned murky brown. For the Indigenous Bajau community, whose traditional livelihoods revolve around fishing and harvesting seaweed, this transformation has been devastating. No longer able to rely on the ocean for food and income, they face significant impacts due to the rapidly increasing demand for minerals such as nickel, cobalt, and bauxite, which are central to the global energy transition.
According to Amiruddin, a 53-year-old fisherman, "All residents here have felt the impact." He describes how the fish, once plentiful, have vanished, forcing fishers to venture farther away to catch fewer fish. Once vibrant marine life and lush ecosystems have been replaced by sediment-filled waters, leading to health risks like skin rashes and lesions. With many parents now warning their children to stay away from the sea, the stark reality of degraded health and environmental crises continues to deepen.
The demand for Indonesia's minerals is far from local; it fuels international supply chains, particularly for stainless steel and electric vehicle batteries. This growing appetite for resources has spurred the mining industry to rapidly expand operations. Local communities, such as those living on Kabaena, are bearing the brunt of this industrial expansion, and experts argue it's leading to irreversible damage.
From 2001 to 2023, over 3,700 hectares (about 9,140 acres) of forest on Kabaena were cleared for mining, according to data from the environmental organization Mighty Earth. This extensive deforestation not only disrupts the local ecosystem but also significantly compromises the livelihoods of local residents. Amal Susanto, a 32-year-old palm sugar farmer, highlights the adverse effects of mining activities on agriculture, stating, "The growth of the sugar palm trees will not be as good because of the influence of mining." The repercussions of decreased agricultural yield reverberate through communities already struggling to adapt to the changing environmental conditions.
The situation on Kabaena exemplifies the broader struggles across Indonesia, where thousands of communities face similar threats from mining activities. The mining companies often operate near schools and residential areas, compounding health risks with increases in respiratory issues, skin ailments, and other chronic health problems. Villagers express deep concern about the air and water quality. Nina, another local resident, lamented, "What else can we do if the water is like this? We’re small people — we can’t do anything. We have to surrender." This sentiment of helplessness is mirrored across the island as its residents grapple with environmental degradation.
Despite the Indonesian constitutional court ruling earlier this year, which recognized the need to protect small islands from hazardous activities like mining, the issuance of new permits continues unabated. Researchers like Sayyidatiihayaa Afra from Satya Bumi have pointed out the inconsistency between the ruling and the mining activities still taking place. Deforestation on Kabaena has persisted even after the ruling, with 150 hectares (370 acres) cleared since April 1, reflecting the pressures of industrial growth overriding legal protections.
Lab analyses conducted by environmental groups revealed alarming levels of hazardous metals such as nickel, lead, and cadmium present in the waters and surrounding environments. Kathrin Schilling, an assistant professor at Columbia University, explained the health risks associated with high exposure to these metals, exposing the community to severe chronic diseases over time. "If people on this island are using the river water as drinking water... you cannot escape basically any of the exposure to those toxic metals," Schilling warned. These dangers have forced many locals to alter their lifestyles, relying increasingly on unhealthy food sources and facing uncertainty about their future health.
The conflict between resource extraction and sustainable living is embodied painfully on Kabaena Island. A region once teeming with life now serves as the backdrop for alarming human and environmental costs tied to Indonesia’s mining boom. While the government pursues aggressive growth, the communities understand the dire price they pay. Whether due to loss of traditional livelihoods, environmental catastrophe, or health hazards, the reality they face is stark.
Unprecedented extraction of natural resources, without sufficient equity and protection for vulnerable communities, poses serious questions for the future of Indonesia’s diverse ecosystems and the Indigenous peoples who have relied on these lands for centuries. Finding balance between wealth from minerals and safeguarding traditions and health is imperative as the global demand for these resources persistently grows.
