Indonesia is currently facing significant environmental challenges, with biodiversity loss, pollution, and climate change becoming increasingly prevalent. The indigenous O’Hongana Manyawa tribe, who live in the forests of the Maluku Islands in Indonesia’s east, are once again at the forefront of efforts to protect their communities and the natural environment.
The expansion of nickel mining operations is contributing to deforestation, which is reducing the available living space of the O’Hongana Manyawa on Halmahera island, North Maluku. O’Hongana Manyawa, which translates to “People of the Forest” in their native language, represents one of the last remaining nomadic hunter-gatherer tribes in Indonesia. Many of the tribes remain uncontacted.
According to data from Survival International, there are an estimated 300 to 500 O’Hongana Manyawa people residing in the forested interior of the island of Halmahera. A significant portion of their territory has now been designated for mining operations, with initial excavations already underway in select areas.
The Indonesian government is facing criticism over its decision to allow a nickel mining boom in the country, which has led to the destruction of vast swathes of rainforest and coastal areas with farming communities. The race to transition away from fossil fuels has been cited as the driving force behind this controversial decision. A significant effort is currently underway across the country to exploit the country’s abundant natural resources.
Indonesia’s strategy for success is based on the availability of low-cost coal, ore, and labor, as well as investment from China. However, this approach has resulted in significant challenges for local communities, the environment, and laborers.
Here you can see how the country’s massive nickel mining and smelting industry has destroyed thousands of hectares of forest land, forcefully displaced local people, and polluted the air and water around the plants.