Indonesia bans mining on small islands to protect ecosystems

The Indonesian government has prohibited mining activities on small islands across the archipelago to safeguard the environment and ecosystem, a senior official from the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries said on Tuesday.

The Indonesian government is committed to preserving the marine and coastal environment by imposing strict rules, said Hendra Yusran Siry, expert staff to the minister of maritime affairs and fisheries for ecology and marine resources.

"We prohibit mining activities on small islands. The rule is very clear," he told a press conference.

According to the official, at least 30 percent of the area on small islands must be allocated for protection functions, public access, and public interest. The remaining 70 percent may be used for other purposes, he was quoted as saying by local media.

Ahmad Aris, director of coastal and small islands at the ministry, said the ministry's policy is reinforced by a decision of the Constitutional Court, which states that the utilization of resources on small islands must consider environmental sustainability as a whole.