11 20 in defiance of existing regulations, typically ignoring sustainability principles and legal aspects. Field findings reveal that these miners are often funded by wealthy backers from major cities. This contradicts the fundamental concept of "community mining" (tambang rakyat), which should ideally be initiated by the local people themselves. I have personally observed community mines in Mamberamo Raya and Pohuwato, Gorontalo, being financed by wealthy individuals from Jakarta. They implement profit-sharing schemes, typically ranging from 50% to 80% for the financier. The licensing process is often initiated by these backers, who persuade locals with promises of large profit shares. These actors generally fall into three categories: the majority who refuse to process mining permits, a small group that attempts to process permits while continuing illegal operations, an even smaller group that processes permits and refrains from mining until legal.Unfortunately, obtaining permits is extremely difficult, partly due to the absence of required reclamation and post-mining documentation. The phenomenon of informal and illegal mining is widespread in developing nations, including Indonesia. These activities generally occur outside of government oversight, lack adequate technology, and ignore safety standards or environmental protections. Consequently, various negative impacts emerge, ranging from environmental degradation such as deforestation and water/soil pollution to social conflicts between communities, authorities, and legal mining companies. Addressing these issues requires more than just strict law enforcement; it demands a deep understanding of the socio-economic factors driving communities toward informal and illegal mining. Therefore, this study is essential to understand the challenges and socioenvironmental impacts involved, serving as a foundation for formulating fair and sustainable policies. 2. THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK AND LEGAL CONTEXT Illegal mining refers to extraction activities conducted without official government authorization and in defiance of existing regulations, including the failure to provide reclamation and post-mining guarantees. In contrast, informal mining may occur within legal areas but is carried out by individuals or small groups lacking a formal legal entity or standardized operational procedures. 2.1 Theoretical Framework: Social and Environmental Impacts Environmental and social impacts are critical aspects that must be considered as a consequence of mining activities. According to Rumkel et al. (2020), an environmental impact is the influence of changes on the environment resulting from a business and/or activity. Meanwhile, according to Stroz (1987:76), social environmental impacts encompass all conditions in the world that, in certain ways, influence an individual's behavior, including growth, development, or life processes, which can also be viewed as "providing the
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