How a race for electrical automobiles threatens a marine paradise

Victoria Gill

Science correspondent, BBC Information

Global Witness An aerial photograph of a group of small, forested islands in turquoise blue seas. This is a view of a small section of hundreds of islands that make up the The Raja Ampat archipelago - a group of small islands in the country's Southwest Papua Province is sometimes referred to as the "Amazon of the Seas". — The Raja Ampat archipelago in Indonesia is typically known as the ‘Amazon of the Seas’

Stark pictures, captured from a drone by environmental campaigners and shared with the BBC, seem to point out how nickel mining has stripped forests and polluted waters in one of the crucial biodiverse marine habitats on Earth.

The Raja Ampat archipelago – a bunch of small islands in Indonesia’s Southwest Papua Province – has been dubbed the “Amazon of the Seas”.

However mining for nickel – an ingredient in electrical automobile batteries and in chrome steel – has ramped up there in recent times, in accordance with the organisation World Witness.

In a transfer that was welcomed by campaigners, the Indonesian authorities this week revoked permits for 4 out of 5 mining corporations working within the area.

{A photograph} taken in December 2024 exhibits mining exercise on Kawei island, in Raja Ampat

Global Witness A photograph taken in December 2024 shows mining activity on Kawei island, in Raja Ampat. On the island that is the main subject of the photograph, forest has been cleared to reveal brown earth, dirt roads built for mining vehicles and a pool where water from the mine collects. — {A photograph} taken in December 2024 exhibits mining exercise on Kawei island, in Raja Ampat

In an announcement printed on-line, Indonesia’s Ministry for the Atmosphere stated: “Raja Ampat’s biodiversity is a world heritage that should be protected.

“We pay nice consideration to mining actions that happen within the space.”

However images – taken by World Witness as a part of an investigation – seem to point out environmental harm already carried out.

Aerial pictures present forest loss and sediment run-off into waters which can be residence to biodiverse coral reefs.

World Witness advised the BBC that land use for mining, throughout a number of small islands within the archipelago, elevated by 500 hectares – equal to about 700 soccer pitches – between 2020 and 2024.

{A photograph} of mining on Kawei island in Raja Ampat, seems to point out sediment working into the coastal water

Global Witness A photograph of mining on Kawei island in Raja Ampat, appears to show sediment running into the coastal water. The aerial image shows a green, verdant island from above. Mining operations just uphill of the water's edge are in contrast to the lush forest - land has been cleared and brown earth is exposed. Downhill of the mine, brown-coloured sediment appears to be running into the clear, blue water. — {A photograph} of mining on Kawei island in Raja Ampat, seems to point out sediment working into the coastal water

Some conservationists, together with the organisation Greenpeace, are involved that the federal government’s choice might be reversed by authorized motion by the mining corporations.

And one firm that operates on Gag island, which has significantly wealthy deposits of nickel, has been allowed to proceed its operations. The federal government stated it might order the “restoration of the ecological impacts that happen” there.

Coral reef conservationist and ecologist Dr Mark Erdmann advised BBC Information that he was “blown away, and so joyful” in regards to the authorities’s choice to revoke the mining permits.

“That is the worldwide epicenter of marine biodiversity,” he advised BBC Information.

Dr Erdmann has labored in Raja Ampat for greater than 20 years and is among the founders of a shark rewilding undertaking there known as Reshark. He added: “It was a voice of concern type Indonesian those that made the federal government concentrate.”

However this ecological controversy is an instance of how the demand for the metals wanted to energy battery know-how – for electrical automobiles and different low carbon power sources – can harm the atmosphere.

Due to the biodiversity of its coral reefs, the Raja Ampat is a hotspot for diving

Global Witness The underwater image shows a rich, colourful coral reef. There are corals of different shades of pink, yellow and greenish blue in the foreground, with a bright orange fish seeming to nibble on one of the corals. Multiple tropical fish are swimming in bright blue water in the background. — Due to the biodiversity of its coral reefs, the Raja Ampat is a hotspot for diving

Indonesia now accounts for greater than half of the world’s nickel mine manufacturing, in accordance with a report final yr by the Institute for Power Economics and Monetary Evaluation.

And whereas the wonder and biodiversity of the Raja Ampat has drawn consideration to mining exercise there, mining has been linked to ecological harm elsewhere too.

A 2024 examine by Forest Watch Indonesia discovered a hyperlink between the lack of forests related to mining exercise and elevated native flooding and landslides.

Underwater pictures present sediment on the reefs across the islands

Global Witness An underwater photograph shows brown sediment covering rocks and corals on the coast of a small island in Indonesia. Campaigners say this is pollution from mining - sediment run-off that is harming marine life. The water looks brown and cloudy, in contrast to the clear blue water in the previous picture. — Underwater pictures present sediment on the reefs across the islands

Growing demand for so-called crucial minerals is shaping financial selections all over the world. It was the driving pressure for President Trump’s current govt order to jumpstart the mining of metallic nodules from the deep sea in worldwide waters. It’s a transfer that China has known as unlawful.

Dr Erdmann identified that balancing financial development with environmental safety was a specific dilemma for Indonesia. “It has a variety of nickel – come what may, a few of it will come out of the bottom,” he stated.

Dr Michaela Guo Ying Lo from the College of Kent led a examine in 2024 of the affect of mining on native communities in Sulawesi, the big Indonesian island that has many of the nation’s nickel deposits.

That concluded that mining exercise diminished poverty barely, however that there was important “worsening of environmental well-being” together with elevated native water and air air pollution.

“Indonesia is positioning itself globally within the nickel market,” Dr Lo advised BBC Information. “However it’s essential to not neglect what’s taking place regionally.”

Native activists say mining exercise is harming farming and fishing livelihoods

Global Witness Three men, all environmental activists in Indonesia, sit in a small boat and explore the islands in Indonesia's Raja Ampat. Lush forests of the small islands can be seen in the background. — Native activists say mining exercise is harming farming and fishing livelihoods

Imam Shofwan, an environmental campaigner from an organisation known as Jatam, based mostly in Jakarta, advised BBC Information: “They are saying nickel is an answer to the local weather disaster. However it’s inflicting deforestation and destroying farmland.”

He additionally identified to the BBC that low-lying coastal areas, the place some nickel deposits are discovered, are a number of the locations most susceptible to the results of local weather change, together with rising sea ranges.

Dr Erdmann commented: “The nickel dilemma is a horrible one.

“Mining is at all times going to be environmentally impactful and all of us are inclined to suppose that electrification is a good suggestion. However what’s the acceptable harm that we’re keen to see?”

The BBC contacted the Indonesian authorities for remark, however didn’t obtain a reply.