Raja Ampat’s UNESCO Global Geopark Status at Risk Amid Mining Activities
In September 2023, Raja Ampat proudly earned the prestigious title of a UNESCO Global Geopark. However, this status is now under serious threat due to ongoing mining operations in the region.
The government has revoked four out of five mining permits in Raja Ampat, Southwest Papua. The permits canceled belonged to PT Anugerah Surya Pratama, PT Kawei Sejahtera Mining, PT Mulia Raymond Perkasa, and PT Nurham. The only exception is the operational nickel mining in Gag Island, a small island designated as a National Strategic Area for Biodiversity Conservation under Presidential Regulation No. 81 of 2023. Notably, Gag Island falls outside the boundaries of the UNESCO Geopark map.
Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia clarified that only the mining license classified as a Contract of Work, specifically held by PT Gag Nikel (a subsidiary of PT Antam), remains valid. However, Gag Island’s proximity to Raja Ampat’s protected areas raises alarms about potential environmental damage, from marine pollution to deforestation and the extinction of local flora and fauna.
“Gag Island is already damaged, and this could jeopardize Raja Ampat’s geopark status with UNESCO,” warned Professor Azril Azhari, a public policy observer specializing in tourism, during a discussion on June 10, 2025. Azril, recognized as a pioneer of tourism science in Indonesia, highlighted the severe consequences of losing UNESCO recognition.
The loss of geopark status would likely drive away international tourists who trust UNESCO’s endorsements. “If Raja Ampat’s geopark title is revoked, the global tourism community will perceive it as a degraded site and avoid it,” Azril said. The fallout would extend beyond tourism: local economies would falter, and indigenous communities would lose a vital platform to showcase their culture and the breathtaking natural beauty of Raja Ampat.
Azril criticized the government’s loosening grip on environmental protection, pointing to the existence of mining permits within this sensitive region as evidence of negligence. “The government only monitors PT Gag closely, but the island’s ecosystem has already been devastated. Tourism and mining simply cannot coexist,” he asserted.
He also took issue with Minister Bahlil’s claim that Gag Island is distant from key tourism zones, saying, “If the minister doesn’t understand the geopark boundaries himself, that’s a violation of the rules.”
Legal grounds strengthen the call to halt mining in small islands. The Constitutional Court has upheld Law No. 1 of 2014 on the Management of Coastal Areas and Small Islands, reinforcing the ban on mining activities on islands smaller than or equal to 2,000 km². This legislation aims to protect ecological sustainability and the rights of coastal and island communities.
“Tourism depends on three pillars: abiotic, biotic, and socio-cultural elements. But now, with polluted seas and dying coral reefs—the very coral that is considered some of the best in the world—this delicate balance is shattered,” said Azril.
“The damage is irreversible for the foreseeable future; it could take hundreds or even thousands of years to restore what’s been lost. Sadly, we may never witness Raja Ampat’s true splendor again if this continues,” he concluded.
