Raja Ampat Deserves a Future Beyond Mining

By Rob Raffael Kardinal
Chairman, Indonesian Carbon Credit & Biodiversity Alliance (ICBA)
Chairman, HIPMI Papua Barat Daya

Few places on Earth carry the ecological significance of Raja Ampat. Home to some of the richest marine biodiversity on the planet, surrounded by forests that continue to support countless species, and shaped by Indigenous communities who have cared for these landscapes and waters for generations, the archipelago has become a symbol of Indonesia’s natural heritage.

It is also increasingly becoming a test of our national commitment to sustainable development.

Recent reports by Greenpeace have renewed concerns over proposals for additional mining activity in Raja Ampat, including claims that several mining permits remain under consideration. While the status of individual permits remains subject to government review and due process, the broader message is clear: Raja Ampat continues to face pressure from extractive industries.

This moment should not be viewed simply as a debate between conservation and economic development. It is a question about Indonesia’s long-term economic vision.

For decades, development was often measured by the volume of natural resources extracted from the ground. Today, the global economy is changing. Investors increasingly value environmental integrity, biodiversity protection, carbon markets, sustainable tourism and responsible supply chains. Countries capable of protecting and creating value from their natural capital can become more competitive, not less.

Papua Barat Daya is uniquely positioned to benefit from this transition.

As the province that is home to Raja Ampat, Papua Barat Daya possesses natural capital whose long-term value can far exceed the short-term gains of extractive development. World-class tourism, sustainable fisheries, marine conservation, carbon markets, biodiversity finance and ecosystem restoration can all contribute to economic growth while preserving the natural systems on which that growth ultimately depends.

As Chairman of the Indonesian Carbon Credit & Biodiversity Alliance (ICBA), I see a significant opportunity for Papua Barat Daya to become one of the Asia-Pacific region’s leading centres for high-integrity carbon credits, biodiversity finance and ecosystem restoration. These emerging sectors can attract international capital, create durable economic opportunities for local communities, and strengthen Indonesia’s position in the global climate and nature agenda.

In my role as Chairman of HIPMI Papua Barat Daya, I also believe the business community has an essential role to play. Entrepreneurs should not only create jobs and investment, but also help ensure that economic growth does not come at the expense of the natural assets on which communities and future prosperity depend.

This is not an argument against investment, nor does it diminish the importance of Indonesia’s mineral sector. Critical minerals will continue to play an important role in the global energy transition. The challenge is ensuring that mining takes place where environmental and social impacts can be responsibly managed—not in areas whose ecological value is effectively irreplaceable.

Raja Ampat belongs in the latter category.

Not every natural asset can be adequately valued through a conventional balance sheet. Raja Ampat’s reefs support fisheries, tourism, scientific research and food security for coastal communities, while also contributing to Indonesia’s international reputation as a steward of globally significant biodiversity.

Losing these assets would carry consequences far beyond any temporary economic benefit.

Government should therefore ensure that all permitting processes are transparent, informed by independent scientific assessment, and meaningfully involve Indigenous Peoples and local communities as rights holders and long-term custodians of these landscapes and waters.

Indonesia has an opportunity to demonstrate that economic development and environmental protection can advance together. Raja Ampat should become a symbol of that model—not an example of irreplaceable natural wealth being exchanged for short-term gain.

History will not judge us solely by the resources we extracted. It will also judge whether we had the wisdom to preserve the natural treasures entrusted to our generation.

Protecting Raja Ampat does not mean rejecting development.

It means choosing development that is smarter, more sustainable and more responsible for the generations that follow.