The National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) has revealed rampant cases of privatization and sale of numerous small islands in Indonesia.
Head of the Political Research Center at BRIN, Athiqah Nur Alami, said while quoting data garnered by a number of non-profit organizations that over 200 islands had been privatized and sold by 2023.
“Most of these 200 islands are located in Jakarta and North Maluku,” she said as quoted by Antara on Monday, July 15, 2024.
In addition to privatization, Athiqah highlighted the negative impacts of extractive industries on small islands. These industries, which include mining, oil and gas exploration, and large-scale fishing, have affected the communities of small islands and coastal areas in Indonesia.
She pointed out that industrial activities could also lead to the sinking of small islands, indicating vulnerabilities that are not only ecological but also social, economic, and cultural.
“This is not just due to climate change but also the activities of extractive industries,” Athiqah said.
Over the past few years, BRIN has been observing the policies on downstream processing and the extensive mining activities and expansion of extractive industries.
She noted that industrial activities, such as the nickel downstream processing projects in Central Sulawesi, South Sulawesi, and North Maluku, as well as iron ore and gold mining in North Sulawesi, could potentially disrupt the ecosystem balance in coastal areas and small islands.
“The environmental impact is evident, with heavy metal pollution in rivers near factories in these areas. Specifically, nickel mining causes not only water pollution but also air pollution, forest destruction, and displacement of farmers due to nickel mine expansion,” she cited.
Athiqah emphasized that these extractive industrial activities impact local communities, effectively encroaching on their living spaces and limiting their access to the sea.
She, therefore, urged relevant stakeholders to reflect on various regulations before making decisions, as seen recently on Rempang Island in the Riau Islands Province.
Regulations concerning the management of small islands, as outlined in Law No. 1/2014, should aim to protect conservation, rehabilitate, utilize, and enrich natural resources and ecological systems sustainably.
“According to these regulations, the management of small islands in Indonesia should aim to protect conservation, rehabilitate, utilize, and sustainably enrich natural resources and ecological systems,” Athiqah concluded.
