As an archipelago province, North Maluku’s land area is small. Only 21% of the province consists of land while the remaining 79% is water or ocean.
The Indonesian Forum for Environment (WALHI) North Maluku chapter believes the government should not enable corporations to plunder their resources, especially destructive businesses like mining.
WALHI said more than 2 million hectares of land area have been annexed by corporations, especially Forest Utilization Business License (PBPH) holders or logging companies.
There is also palm oil industry and Mining Business License (IUP) for gold, nickel, iron ore, and iron sand.
“As a result, North Maluku residents live in the shadow of ecological destruction. Forests as a unity of life ecosystems and a shield against ecological disasters have been deforested leaving puddles. The triggers for forest loss are mining, palm oil, and the timber industry,” said WALHI in a statement accessed through its site. (28/10/2023).
WALHI believes corporations will not clear forests without a government “legal stamp.”
On the other hand, ecological degradation on land will affect the sea. Marine ecosystems are already at risk from mining waste. This makes it increasingly difficult for fishermen and other coastal communities that rely on the ocean. In many cases, their homes and livelihoods are already at risk due to sea level rise.
Read also: Ecosystems and indigenous people at risk if cattle ranching begins in Indonesia’s Aru Islands
Surrounded by corporations
In the south of North Maluku, the people in Obi continue to witness trees felled and land dredged by corporations.
In Gane, the southern peninsula of Halmahera island, stretches of primary forest including areas managed by the people have collapsed — cleared and turned into oil palm plantations.
From the center to the east of Halmahera island, massive areas of land are cleared followed by dredging carried out by dozens of nickel corporations. The same corporations that supply soil to Chinese companies.
WALHI added that the reality on the ground includes rivers with high sedimentation from mining waste. It also includes wildlife losing their habitat, flooding becoming more frequent, and a rapid increase in poverty.
The North Maluku Central Statistics Agency (BPS) data shows that in the last three years (2018-2021) Central Halmahera and East Halmahera have the highest poverty rate in North Maluku with an annual average of 21 thousand people.
“It shows that the government’s plan to bring investments into North Maluku was a fatal mistake, but that was not recognized. They should revoke those business licenses and then return the land to the people. On the contrary, servicing corporations is more important than attending to people’s welfare,” said Walhi.
When in fact, these extractive operations only serve cities in China, Europe, and the United States, making them more green and environmentally friendly.
“While North Maluku must endure irreversible damage to its environment,” said WALHI.