Stark images captured by a drone by environmental campaigners and shared with the BBC, show how nickel mining has taken away forests and polluted water in one of the most biodiversity sea habitats on Earth.

Raja Ampat Islands – A group of small islands in the South -West Papua province of Indonesia – has been described as a “Amazon of the Seae”.

But mining for nickel – electric vehicle in battery and a component in stainless steel – in recent years, according to the organization, there has been a ramp. Global witness,

In a step welcomed by campaigners, this week the Indonesian government canceled permits for four out of four of the five mining companies working in the region.

In A statement published onlineThe Ministry of Indonesia for the environment said: “The biodiversity of King Ampat is a world heritage that should be preserved.

“We pay great attention to mining activities in the region.”

But photos – taken by Global witness as part of an investigation – Already appeared to show the environmental damage done.

Aerial images show the one loss and sediment run-off in water which is the home of biodiversity coral reefs.

Global witness told the BBC that the use of land for mining, in many small islands in the archipelago, increased by 500 hectares – equal to about 700 football pitches – between 2020 and 2024.

Some conservationist, Organization GreenpeaceIt is worried that the government’s decision may be reversed by legal action by mining companies.

And a company that works on the island of Gag, which is particularly rich deposits of Nickel, is allowed to continue its operation. The government said that it would order “restoring ecological effects there”.

Coral Reef Conservationist and Ecology Dr. Mark Edman told BBC News that he was “blown, and very happy” about the government’s decision to cancel mining permits “.

“This is the global subclass of marine biodiversity,” he told BBC News.

Dr. Edman has worked in King Ampat for more than two decades and is one of the founders of a shark rewinding project there. to stopHe said: “It was the voice of Indonesian people who paid attention to the government as resentment.”

But this ecological dispute is an example of how the demand for metals required for electric battery technology – electric cars and other low carbon energy sources – can damage the environment.

Indonesia is now responsible for more than half the world’s nickel mine production A report last year By Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis.

And while the beauty and biodiversity of King Ampat has attracted attention to mining activity there, mining has also been associated with ecological damage.

2024 study by One Watch Indonesia A link was found amid the loss of forests associated with mining activity and increase in local floods and landslides.

The increasing demand for so -called important minerals is shaping economic decisions worldwide. This was the driving force to jump the mining of metal nodules from the deep sea in international water for President Trump’s recent executive order. it is A step called China is called illegal,

Dr. Armain said that balanced the economic growth with environmental protection was a special dilemma for Indonesia. He said, “There are many nickels in it – one way or another, it is going to come out of the ground,” he said.

Dr. from Kent University Michela Guo Ying Lo led A study in 2024 Under the influence of mining on local communities in Sulawesi, the large Indonesian island with most of the country’s nickel deposits.

It was concluded that mining activity reduced poverty slightly, but “deteriorating environmental welfare” was important, including increase in local water and air pollution.

Dr. Lo told BBC News, “Indonesia Nickel is positioning itself globally in the market.” “But it is not important that what is happening at the local level is not to forget.”

Imam Shuffwan, an environmental pracharak of an organization called Jakarta in Jakarta, told BBC News, “He says that Nickel is a solution to the climate crisis. But it is causing forest harvesting and destroying the field.”

He also informed the BBC that low-flying coastal areas, where some nickels are found, are some places that are the weakest for the effects of climate change, including the rising levels of the sea.

Dr. Ardamain remarked: “Nickel dilemma is a terrible.

“Mining is always going to be environmentally impressive and we all think that electrification is a good idea. But what is the acceptable damage we are ready to see?”

The BBC contacted the Indonesian government for remarks, but did not get the reply.