Raja Ampat, a remote archipelago in eastern Indonesia renowned for its extraordinary marine biodiversity, is facing mounting pressure from nickel mining expansion and a surge in international tourism. The region, part of the Coral Triangle, is considered the most biodiverse marine ecosystem on the planet, with vibrant coral reefs, sharks, mantas, and sea turtles.
Conservation efforts began in the early 2000s after destructive fishing practices devastated local reefs and fish stocks. In 2023, a marine assessment by Conservation International spurred local leaders and environmental groups to establish 10 marine protected areas by 2007, covering 2 million hectares. Today, local communities patrol the waters, enforce fishing rules, and monitor tourism, funded largely by a $40 entry fee.
The results have been significant: a 2024 report from the Misool Foundation found fish biomass increased by 109%, and the waters now host 2,007 reef mantas, a vulnerable species. However, this success is now under threat as Indonesia expands nickel mining to support renewable energy technologies. In 2025, new mining concessions were granted on three northern Raja Ampat islands, including within a UNESCO Global Geopark and near top dive sites.
Nickel is essential for electric vehicle batteries and renewable energy infrastructure, and Indonesia holds about 43% of global reserves. Mining has caused tensions in communities dependent on fishing and tourism. Following public outcry, four concessions were revoked, but one remains on Gag Island, where mining began in 2017. Environmentalists warn that heavy machinery and sediment runoff from steep, rainy islands could kill coral reefs and disrupt manta ray migration corridors.
“The heavy machinery, excavators, bulldozers — they’re still there,” said Timon Manurung, director of Auriga Nusantara. “No one is taking responsibility for repairing the damage already done.” The future of Raja Ampat’s reefs hangs in the balance as conservation and economic development clash.
