{"id":306038,"date":"2025-07-23T11:21:08","date_gmt":"2025-07-23T10:21:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.iucn.nl\/?p=306038"},"modified":"2025-11-11T10:01:34","modified_gmt":"2025-11-11T09:01:34","slug":"nickel-mining-on-sulawesi-overlaps-with-globally-important-biodiversity-areas-new-research-shows","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.iucn.nl\/en\/publication\/nickel-mining-on-sulawesi-overlaps-with-globally-important-biodiversity-areas-new-research-shows\/","title":{"rendered":"Nickel mining on Sulawesi overlaps with globally important biodiversity areas, new research shows"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Nickel mining linked to Sulawesi’s Morowali Industrial Park has caused substantial damage to nature, according to research from the IMVO Covenant for the Renewable Energy Sector<\/a>, initiated by IUCN NL. Mining concessions have been granted in globally important biodiversity areas on the Indonesian island.<\/h4>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Headerphoto: Nickel mine in Morowali, Central Sulawesi, Indonesia. \u00a9 Garry Lotulung <\/mark><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Global demand for the minerals and metals for the energy transition is growing and will only increase, according to the World Bank<\/a>. Demand for nickel, cobalt, lithium and manganese, for example, will increase by more than 500% by 2050. This huge demand is leading to the growth of mining activities on an unprecedented scale.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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It is essential to limit global warming and transition from fossil to renewable resources as soon as possible. In this process, we must ensure that damage to nature and people is minimised.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Mining in crucial biodiversity areas<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
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From the IMVO Covenant for the Renewable Energy Sector, IUCN NL commissioned a study on the environmental impact of nickel mining linked to the Morowali Industrial Park on Sulawesi, Indonesia. Nickel is an important raw material for the energy transition. It is used for the production of stainless steel and for the transition to electric vehicles. As this industrial park is one of the largest nickel mining sites in the world, it was chosen as the site for the study.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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This study showed that the environmental impact is large-scale and also takes place in globally important biodiversity areas, so-called ‘Key Biodiversity Areas’ (KBAs). These are locations are of global importance for the overall health of the planet and the survival of biodiversity.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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The picture below shows the overlap between mining concessions in the Morowali Industrial Park and the KBAs present there.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Large scale deforestation<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
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The study found that there is an overlap of 58,000 hectares in the Morowali Industrial Park in the form of 22 different nickel mining concessions with KBAs. This poses a significant risk to these very important areas.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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It further revealed that in 2023<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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