The Lasolo river facing the nickel mines

The initiative led by Naturevolution, on the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia, proposes a comparative study between the Lasolo river, the longest river of Sulawesi Tenggara, still preserved, and its main tributary the Lalindu river, strongly impacted by nickel mining. By combining biodiversity studies and analysis of contamination levels, the project aims to establish a scientific framework for the original natural state, making it possible to anticipate and demonstrate the future impacts of mining expansion on ecosystems that are still intact.
Led by multidisciplinary teams (biologists, toxicologists, hydrogeologists) from the universities of Halu Oleo and Gadjah Mada, this initiative will produce key data to guide public policies, strengthen environmental advocacy and promote sustainable river management, and in particular the Lasolo river, on which thousands of people depend.

This project is in line with the “Wallacea Expeditions” of Naturevolution, which aim to reveal the extraordinary ecological richness of the karst mountains of Sulawesi Tenggara, today at the heart of a protected area project of 6,000 km 2, including in particular the four main watersheds of the region including the Lasolo river.
However, these territories are now threatened by the rapid expansion of the nickel industry, which has led to massive deforestation and irreversible ecosystem pollution, particularly with regard to heavy metals. By providing a concrete and anticipated demonstration of the impacts of these pressures, the initiative aims to contribute directly to the protection of river ecosystems affected by mining projects and the communities that depend on them.