Sulawesi Island is known as a region with high biodiversity and endemism, including key species such as the anoa, maleo, and Sulawesi hornbill. In Morowali Regency, Central Sulawesi, PT Baoshuo Taman Industry Investment Group (BTIIG) is developing a nickel industrial area covering more than five thousand hectares, with plans to expand to twenty thousand hectares. The development of this industrial area is located in a complex landscape consisting of secondary forests, ultrabasic forests, coastlines, mangroves, and karst hills that contain a network of caves and water sources that are important to the community.

Research shows that in the area planned for development by PT BTIIG, at least 58 plant species and 64 wildlife species have been identified, including endemic and endangered species. This area also has a high conservation value (HCV) of 3,945 hectares, or more than half of PT BTIIG’s total area. This conservation value includes habitats for protected species, rare ecosystems such as ultrabasic forests and karst, areas important for water management and erosion control, as well as areas that are sources of livelihood for local communities and the Wana indigenous people. These findings confirm that most of the planned BTIIG industrial area development is located on a landscape that is highly important from both an ecological and socio-cultural perspective.

The development of nickel industrial areas and mining around this region has triggered damage to forests, mangroves and ancient caves, while threatening the environmental services that support community livelihoods. Rivers that have been used for clean water, farming and small-scale fishing are at risk of being polluted by industrial waste. Key species such as the maleo are also under increasing pressure if the development of industrial and mining areas towards their habitats continues. On the other hand, local communities, including the Wana indigenous community, face social pressures in the form of criminalisation and agrarian conflicts related to land ownership.

This report recommends that areas of high conservation value in the BTIIG region be immediately designated as permanent preservation areas, while respecting the indigenous/local communities that have long lived and depended on these areas. BTIIG is obliged to develop strategies for the protection of key species, important ecosystems, and safe waste management. The central and regional governments need to review the scope of the BTIIG industrial area development plan and ensure the full involvement of local and indigenous communities through the Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) mechanism.

The protection of biodiversity in Morowali is not only important for the local community, but also for Indonesia’s commitment to its national biodiversity strategy (IBSAP 2025–2045) and global climate targets through FOLU Net Sink 2030. Without decisive intervention, the expansion of the nickel industry has the potential to accelerate the loss of Sulawesi’s unique biodiversity, disrupt the balance of ecosystems, and undermine the achievement of national climate and conservation targets.