Nickel mining has been found in Raja Ampat in Gag, Kawe and Manuran Islands. Local people and activists have protested and asked these mines to be closed. Activists have cited Indonesian law that prohibits mining to be undertaken in small island ecosystem.
I have not followed this issue closely, but today Greenpeace Indonesia undertook a public disruption to protest mining in Raja Ampat. Here is the link to the press release (sorry, it's in Indonesian but I think it should be easy for anyone to use AI to translate it) Kritik Industrialisasi Nikel, Aktivis Greenpeace Gelar Aksi di Konferensi Nikel Internasional di Jakarta - Greenpeace Indonesia
I will post more updates as I learn more about this issue. But if you're going to R4, please voice your concern on mining in R4 to local authorities
Also it wouldn't hurt for divers and those who love R4 and would like your children, grandchildren, to have the opportunity to dive R4, to flood the Indonesian embassies in your countries with protest against mining in R4.
Mining, in particularly nickel, has already wreaked havoc in other places in Indonesia. Some media coverage on this:
www.dw.com
theconversation.com
projectmultatuli.org
ABC Australia coverage
mining near Weda Bay (@Indah, owner of Weda Bay resort has had to close the resort due to mining, cmiiw)
'bloody nickel series' by watchdog documentary
I have not followed this issue closely, but today Greenpeace Indonesia undertook a public disruption to protest mining in Raja Ampat. Here is the link to the press release (sorry, it's in Indonesian but I think it should be easy for anyone to use AI to translate it) Kritik Industrialisasi Nikel, Aktivis Greenpeace Gelar Aksi di Konferensi Nikel Internasional di Jakarta - Greenpeace Indonesia
I will post more updates as I learn more about this issue. But if you're going to R4, please voice your concern on mining in R4 to local authorities
Also it wouldn't hurt for divers and those who love R4 and would like your children, grandchildren, to have the opportunity to dive R4, to flood the Indonesian embassies in your countries with protest against mining in R4.
Mining, in particularly nickel, has already wreaked havoc in other places in Indonesia. Some media coverage on this:

The hidden cost of Indonesia's nickel boom – DW – 04/30/2025
A new investigation shows how a once pristine Indonesian island was sacrificed for global battery supply chains.


Weighing the green cost: How nickel mining in Indonesia impacts forests and local communities
While the expansion of nickel mines drives deforestation, communities across Sulawesi experience a mix of benefits and challenges.


Nickel Mining Operation Is ‘Slowly Killing Us’, Indonesian Farmers Say
Muddy water flowing in the house of Saharia, a resident of Dompo-Dompo Jaya Village in Southeast Sulawesi, on May 20, 2023. (Project M/Riza Salman) Farmers in Wawonii, Southeast Sulawesi, are up in arms about a nickel mining operation that is slowly destroying their ecosystem. “EVEN ani

ABC Australia coverage
mining near Weda Bay (@Indah, owner of Weda Bay resort has had to close the resort due to mining, cmiiw)
'bloody nickel series' by watchdog documentary