The ongoing mining controversy in Raja Ampat has once again sparked widespread concern, not only among environmental observers but also from academic circles. Although several mining business licenses (IUPs) have been revoked by the government, some companies continue to challenge the decision and may potentially resume operations. Even more concerning, parts of the mining areas are located within the Raja Ampat Geopark, a conservation zone that should be strictly protected both legally and ethically.
This situation poses a serious test for the government’s commitment to safeguarding nationally strategic areas.
Lecturer at the Faculty of Forestry at Universitas Gadjah Mada (Forestry UGM), Dr. Hatma Suryatmojo, expressed his deep concern over this issue.
Dr. Suryatmojo emphasized that mining activities in forest areas must undergo rigorous, multi-layered procedures, especially if the mining site is located in a conservation area, including protected forests.
He argued that this process is often expedited or bypassed improperly, particularly when economic interests overshadow environmental considerations.
“The conversion of forest areas for mining should go through spatial planning revisions and forest area release processes as stipulated by law,” he explained on Wednesday, Jun. 18, 2025.
Dr. Suryatmojo explained that to conduct mining in forest areas, companies must not only obtain an IUP from the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) but also secure a forest area utilization permit from the Ministry of Forestry, now known as the PPKH (Forest Area Use Approval).
However, he regretted that some companies, initially granted only exploration permits, proceed directly to production activities without supervision.
“Ideally, local and central governments should monitor each other, and thorough field verification must be conducted before any permit is issued. Unfortunately, weak inter-agency coordination often opens gaps for administrative and substantive violations,” he emphasized.
In legal terms, mining companies have the right to appeal permit revocations to the Administrative Court (PTUN).
According to Dr. Suryatmojo, the reinstatement of revoked permits reveals two simultaneous problems: weak administrative procedures and inadequate post-revocation oversight.
He stressed that environmental law enforcement must not remain only on paper but must also be implemented on the ground.
“If supervision is weak, companies might covertly continue operations while awaiting the court’s decision,” he added.
He also noted that the Southwest Papua region faces significant geographical and capacity constraints.
The vast, remote area, consisting of many islands, makes regular patrols and monitoring difficult.
Furthermore, after the enactment of the 2020 Mining Law and the Omnibus Law, the mining licensing authority was centralized, stripping local governments of their strategic oversight roles in the field.
This imbalance between centralized policy and regional geographic realities must be addressed with a more decentralized approach.
“Central authorities cannot always access operational details in remote areas, increasing the risk of violations going unnoticed,” he said.
Dr. Suryatmojo proposed that the ideal solution lies in building a cross-sectoral, collaborative, and adaptive monitoring system.
He emphasized the importance of cooperation among the Ministry of Forestry, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, local governments, and law enforcement agencies.
He also highlighted the need for increased technical capacity and budgetary support for monitoring agencies as key elements of mining oversight reform.
“The Directorate General of Law Enforcement (Ditjen Gakkum) of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry must take a proactive approach in the field, supported by accurate spatial data,” he said.
He views the ecological impact of mining on small islands, such as those in Raja Ampat, as highly destructive and potentially permanent.
Large-scale deforestation causes soil erosion, which then flows into the sea during rainfall, smothering coral reefs with sediment.
If coral reefs are damaged, the appeal of tourism and the marine ecosystem will also collapse.
“In fact, coral reefs are the foundation of Raja Ampat’s marine ecosystem,” said Dr. Suryatmojo.
In addition to marine ecosystems, mining also disrupts the hydrological cycle on small islands.
Forests on small islands play a critical role in absorbing and storing rainwater.
When these areas are cleared for mining, freshwater sources can disappear, and groundwater may become contaminated by mining waste containing heavy metals.
In archipelagic regions like Raja Ampat, a clean water crisis could lead to social inequality and resource-based conflict.
“Water contamination from mining waste poses a high risk to the community’s freshwater sources,” he explained.
Dr. Suryatmojo also reminded that areas designated as Geoparks should never be opened for extractive activities such as mining.
A Geopark is an area with significant geological and biodiversity value, meant to be preserved for education, conservation, and ecotourism.
He proposed that the Geopark status be automatically protected in spatial planning as an inviolable conservation zone.
“Opening forest areas for exploitation clearly contradicts the Geopark concept,” he stressed.
From a regulatory perspective, he believes several amendments in the Omnibus Law have weakened environmental control.
Local governments, which previously played an active role in supervision, have become passive due to the centralization of licensing.
Moreover, stringent sanction mechanisms have been replaced with administrative fines, which he considers a direct contradiction to the principles of ecological justice and sustainability.
“Mining companies that illegally encroach on forest areas could escape criminal charges simply by paying a fine,” he criticized.
To prevent similar cases from recurring, Dr. Suryatmojo advocated a multi-layered approach that includes policy reform, strengthened oversight, and public engagement.
The central government must enforce a clear ban on mining in high-ecological-value areas and immediately implement a moratorium in regions such as Geoparks, small islands, and protected forests.
He added that environmental audits should be mandatory for mining companies, not merely a formality.
“Spatial planning must be reinforced so that no mining permits contradict regional spatial plans (RTRW) or coastal zoning,” he stated.
He also recommended establishing a regional mining oversight task force involving various agencies and independent elements.
This task force should be equipped with monitoring technologies and trained human resources.
A single entity cannot handle supervision; it requires a coordinated and decentralized system.
Cross-sector collaboration must be conducted regularly and based on reliable data.
“Train more forest rangers and mining inspectors to thoroughly understand environmental damage indicators,” he suggested.
On the other hand, community involvement is considered the key to long-term environmental protection.
Local and indigenous communities possess wisdom and experience in conserving nature.
Dr. Suryatmojo emphasized the importance of education, public consultation, and the establishment of village-level environmental monitoring committees.
He also underscored that the economic benefits of a sustainable environment, such as ecotourism and sustainable fisheries, must be tangibly felt by the community to encourage active environmental stewardship.
“The community is the frontline of monitoring because they are the ones who know and care the most about their own land,” he concluded.
Author: Triya Andriyani
Post-editor: Lintang Andwyna
Photographs: papuaexplorers.com