Exposing the Impact of Deforestation and Natural Resource Exploitation for Enviromental Justice and Citizens' Rights

Indonesia is widely recognized as a country with abundant natural resources, which serve as a major pillar of the national economy and a significant source of state revenue. However, the utilization of these resources is often not accompanied by wise and sustainable management principles. As a result, various environmental and social problems continue to emerge.

One clear example can be found in Morowali Regency, Central Sulawesi, which has 53 mining business permits with production operation status. Large-scale mining activities in this area have caused various negative impacts, such as muddy floods, air pollution, and environmental contamination. Studies show that the environmental carrying capacity in these mining areas is no longer adequate. The loss of forest cover due to mining exploitation has reduced water catchment areas, causing rainwater to flow rapidly downstream while carrying sediment, thereby increasing flood risks.

Similar issues also occur in other provinces that serve as centers of extractive activities and plantation expansion. In Jambi and Central Kalimantan, the expansion of oil palm plantations and monoculture timber plantations (such as acacia and eucalyptus) continues to grow. These expansions are often carried out through the conversion of natural forests and peatlands that have important ecological functions. In addition to causing deforestation, these practices exacerbate forest and land fire risks and create land tenure conflicts between companies and indigenous or local communities that depend on forests for their livelihoods.

In Central Kalimantan in particular, in addition to plantation expansion, the region is also one of the main centers of coal mining. Coal mining activities not only damage landscapes and pollute water bodies but also generate high carbon emissions, which contradict Indonesia’s commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. In many locations, overlaps between mining concessions, plantation concessions, and community-managed areas create social tensions and legal uncertainty over land tenure.

Recent data from Auriga Nusantara through Simontini.id show that deforestation in Indonesia reached 257,000 hectares in 2023 and increased to 261,000 hectares in the following year. This

increase signals growing pressure on Indonesia’s forests, driven by both the expansion of

extractive industries and large-scale plantation development.

Central Kalimantan and Jambi are among the ten provinces with the highest deforestation rates, recording deforestation of 33,389 hectares and 14,839 hectares respectively. Although deforestation remains concentrated in Kalimantan and Sumatra, geographically it has now spread to eastern Indonesia, including Sulawesi. Central Sulawesi and Southeast Sulawesi have emerged as provinces with high deforestation rates, primarily driven by the expansion of nickel mining.

Deforestation data for 2024 released by Auriga Nusantara recorded that Sulawesi Island lost 17,361 hectares of natural forest. Although this figure represents a decrease compared to the previous year, it demonstrates that threats to natural forests remain very real, particularly in the absence of fair and sustainable governance.

In an effort to promote more responsible and sustainable natural resource management and to strengthen public participation in safeguarding environmental issues, Auriga Nusantara has launched the Pasopati Journalist Fellowship. This program supports journalists in conducting in-depth reporting on forestry, plantation, and mining issues in four priority provinces: Jambi, Central Kalimantan, Central Sulawesi, and Southeast Sulawesi.