Raja Ampat, located at the edge of eastern Indonesia, is often described as one of the last pristine paradises on Earth. Its turquoise waters, rich coral reefs, and unique biodiversity have made it not only a global tourism icon but also a vital ecological treasure.
But in recent years and especially in 2025, this paradise has come under threat. Large-scale nickel mining projects are pushing into protected zones, sparking alarm not only among environmentalists but also among local residents and mental health advocates.
Because what’s at stake here is more than just land.
It’s our sanity, our identity, and our collective future.
Mining in Paradise: What’s Really Going On?
In June 2025, CNN Indonesia reported that nickel mining activities were expanding in Raja Ampat despite the area being designated as a conservation zone. While the Indonesian Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources promised to “evaluate” the issue, it was revealed that permits for mining operations had already been granted to major companies like PT GAG Nickel and PT Kawei Sejahtera Mining years ago.
The local government of Raja Ampat has little to no authority in these decisions. Permits come from Jakarta, and locals are left to watch as their forests are cleared, coral reefs are disturbed, and sacred lands are transformed into industrial zones.
As Raja Ampat Regent openly questioned:
“If Special Autonomy doesn’t give us the right to protect our own land, what’s the point of it?”
This isn’t just an environmental issue, it’s a justice issue.
Read full article on CNN Indonesia (2025)
Eco-Anxiety: When Nature’s Destruction Affects Our Mental Health
Unsplash.com (Simon Spring’s Archive)
What happens when a place we love or even just admire from afar starts to fall apart?
For many of us, the emotional impact is deep and lasting.
This feeling is known as eco-anxiety, a term used to describe the psychological distress caused by environmental decline. While not classified as a clinical disorder, eco-anxiety can manifest as real and painful symptoms, especially in younger generations.
Signs of eco-anxiety include:
- Constant worry about climate change or environmental collapse
- Anger or helplessness when reading environmental news
- Guilt about personal environmental impact
- Feeling emotionally exhausted, small, or powerless in the face of global destruction
For many Indonesian youth, the news about Raja Ampat hits hard.
“If even Raja Ampat isn’t safe, where can we feel safe?”
This kind of collective grief mourning what we’re losing in real time is real and valid. And it deserves space in our mental health conversations.
Why It Hurts: Nature as Home, Healer, and Hope
There’s a reason why environmental damage feels so personal.
Nature isn’t just a backdrop. It’s not just a “nice-to-have.”
It’s our home. It’s a source of healing. It’s part of our emotional memory.
For the people of Raja Ampat, the ocean is sacred. The forests are not just trees, they are ancestors, identity, and inheritance. To see these places stripped for resources is to witness a cultural and spiritual wound.
And even for those of us who’ve never been there, Raja Ampat represents something, a bigger hope. A reminder that somewhere out there, nature still thrives. When that hope is taken away, we all feel it.
So What Can We Do? Turning Grief Into Action
It’s easy to feel helpless. But it’s even more important that we act.
You don’t need to be a policymaker to care. Here’s how we can start protecting both our planet and our peace of mind:
Talk About It
Don’t keep your worries to yourself. Share your thoughts with friends, post about it on social media, or join discussions in your community.
Support the Locals
Amplify the voices of Indigenous peoples and local communities who are protecting their land. Share petitions, support their campaigns, and call for transparency in policymaking.
Join a Movement
Be part of environmental and mental health communities that are working for real change. Healing happens in the community, not in isolation.
Reconnect with Nature
Sometimes the most radical act is simply remembering what we’re trying to protect. Take a walk, touch a tree, listen to the ocean if you can. These moments matter.
Save Raja Ampat = Save Our Sanity
When nature is harmed, we are harmed emotionally, spiritually, and mentally. This isn’t just about preserving coral reefs or keeping tourism alive. It’s about safeguarding the emotional connection we all have to the Earth. It’s about ensuring our children inherit not just polluted cities and anxiety, but hope.
We need nature for healing.
And now, nature needs us more than ever.
What You Can Do Right Now:
✅ Share this article to raise awareness
✅ Follow and support communities protecting Raja Ampat
✅ Reflect on your own connection to nature
✅ Leave a comment: How do you feel about what’s happening to Raja Ampat?
