Martabe gold mine exploration feared to threaten Batang Toru ecosystem
According to WALHI North Sumatra monitoring, in the last 15 years, deforestation around the mine has reached more than 114 hectares, eliminating forests that are important habitats for the Tapanuli.
Martabe gold mine exploration in South Tapanuli, North Sumatra, is feared to threaten the Batang Toru ecosystem, which will result in the loss of water sources and threaten the Tapanuli orangutan population and other biodiversity.
Currently, PT Agincourt Resources (PT AR), the operator of the Martabe gold mine, is planning to open a new Tailing Management Facility (TMF) in the northern area of the concession.
Based on a search of PT AR’s Environmental Impact Analysis (AMDAL) documents, the total area of the TMF reaches 195.2 hectares. The development of the new TMF area also requires various additional facilities that will open up forests in the Batang Toru ecosystem area, such as the construction of TMF road development (9.17 hectares), TMF DAM sediment (86.90 hectares), and buffer area (291.73 hectares).
The total planned land area to be opened is 583 hectares. The construction process of the TMF facility will be carried out periodically and over a long period of time. This condition will minimize fragmentation or separation of habitats that will increase animal extinction.
Based on the Regulation of the Minister of Environment and Forestry Number P.20/2018, the PT AR mining location is a location where various taxa are found, both protected and unprotected. The mining area is a habitat for rare primates such as gibbon and Tapanuli orangutans.
The home range of orangutans generally requires around 15 to 20 hectares with a daily roam of around 750 to 1100 meters per day. Thus, 195.2 hectares of land clearing will be significant for orangutan habitat.
Uli Arta Siagian, WALHI National Forest and Garden Campaign Manager, said that the Batang Toru ecosystem is not only a home for orangutans and other biodiversity, but also a source of livelihood for hundreds of thousands of people who depend on the forest and water in the Batang Toru landscape.
“There are at least 1200 hectares of rice fields that depend on water sourced from the Batang Toru forest, which are threatened with loss. This is very contradictory to the government’s food self-sufficiency program,” he said.
The Director of the North Sumatra Environmental Forum (WALHI), Rianda Purba firmly expressed concern over the environmental impacts caused by the Martabe gold mine. The main highlight is the mining activity that has caused enormous damage to the Batang Toru Ecosystem and threatens the survival of the Tapanuli orangutan, one of the rarest species in the world.
“The Martabe gold mine is located in the heart of the Batang Toru Ecosystem, which is the last habitat for the Tapanuli orangutan. With a population of less than 800 individuals, this species is very vulnerable to extinction,” said Rianda.
According to WALHI North Sumatra monitoring, in the last 15 years, deforestation around the mine has reached more than 114 hectares, eliminating forests that are important habitats for the Tapanuli orangutan.
The Tapanuli orangutan is the most isolated species on the island of Sumatra, only found in the Batang Toru landscape which includes the areas of North Tapanuli, Central Tapanuli, and South Tapanuli. Unlike the Sumatran orangutan (Pongo abelii) and the Bornean orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus), the Tapanuli orangutan has unique characteristics, but is very vulnerable with a population of less than 800 individuals.
With the status of “critically endangered”, the existence of this species is very threatened due to habitat loss caused by deforestation.
“Although the TMF development plan is located in the Other Use Area (APL), in terms of land cover, it is still forest and is included in the key biodiversity area of the Batang Toru ecosystem,” said Satya Bumi campaigner Riezcy Cecilia Dewi.
Based on biodiversity surveys conducted in stages in 2008, 2013, 2016, and 2017, Riezcy continued, the PT AR mining location is a location with high tree density and contains several protected species, such as siamang, simpai, and Tapanuli orangutan.
“Meanwhile, land preparation activities for the TMF will open up forested areas into open areas, so this will have an impact on reducing orangutan habitat, which can lead to extinction in the long term,” said Riezcy.
Other impacts include the removal of vegetation cover and the structure of terrestrial flora species composition due to land clearing, and the loss of fauna and protected animal habitats.
The potential loss of trees for the needs of the TMF development is around 185,884 trees. The opening of new areas for the PT AR TMF is also projected to damage water sources, starting from changes in river flow patterns, increased surface water runoff, decreased surface water quality and groundwater levels.
“The mining company’s working area overlaps with the upstream of five main river basins that are the source of water for almost 100,000 people. This damage has a direct impact on water quality and food security for local communities,” added Rianda.
The change in PT AR’s AMDAL occurred in line with the planned change in the annual gold ore production target, from the initial 6 million tons per year to 7 million tons per year. The increase in production volume means that PT AR requires a larger storage area.
In the previous AMDAL, there was no TMF area, so this is a new area that also requires new land. Based on PT AR’s AMDAL analysis and the plan to open a new TMF area that will open up forest cover and protected animal habitats, it is hoped that there will be a review of the negative impacts arising from PT AR’s activities.
In addition, there are several notes that can be used as a basis for reviewing PT AR’s new AMDAL, namely the weakness of the biodiversity analysis, because the approach is still limited to recording species without examining the ecological role of each species. Although the AMDAL document identifies hypothetical significant impacts that focus more on hydrology, water quality and biology, it is still based on public perception, which can lead to less objective analysis.