11 29 forests, mangroves, and residential areas. Uncontrolled informal mining activities over the years have left behind severe damage: • Ecosystem Destruction: Offshore mining causes water turbidity, sedimentation, and the destruction of coral reefs, which harms the fisheries and tourism sectors. • Critical Land: There are tens of thousands of unreclaimed mining pits (kolong), transforming the landscape into barren, critical land. • Local Economic Crisis: Crackdowns on illegal smelters and the suspension of operations by several large companies have triggered waves of layoffs and a decline in the purchasing power of communities that have long depended on the informal tin supply chain. • Unlicensed Gold Mining in West Dumoga, Bolaang Mongondow: These activities have resulted in ecological impacts (pollution, mining voids, hazardous residues, and land degradation), government economic burdens (post-damage restoration costs), and the loss of potential state revenue. In addition to violating the law, illegal activities—such as those at the Oboy site—threaten environmental sustainability. The open-pit methods used are suspected of utilizing hazardous chemicals such as carbon, lime, and cyanide, which have the potential to contaminate soil and water and jeopardize the health of surrounding communities. Figure 6 – Environmental consequences resulting from illegal and informal mining activities Based on these cases, efforts must be made to ensure that informal and illegal mines are subject to strict sanctions and that mines operating in Indonesia have mining permits and pay attention to their environmental impact. The following efforts can be made: • Strengthening mechanisms for reclamation and environmental restoration There needs to be regulations stipulating that every mining operation, whether legal or informal, has a land reclamation/rehabilitation obligation and provides subsidies or technical assistance to local communities so that they can carry out reclamation. • Monitoring and early detection technology Maximise the use of satellite imagery, drones, and water and soil quality monitoring systems to detect illegal activities early on. • Community participation and environmental education
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