SDG 15 “Life on land” is focusing on protecting and restoring the ecosystem and promoting sustainable land use. One of the main goals of SDG 15 is to restore the land, stop deforesting and protect the biodiversity. To achieve these goals can be extremely challenging, especially in areas where activities such as mining are taking place. Like in the case of the Grasberg mine in Papua in Indonesia.
The Grasberg mine is one of the biggest mines in the entire world. The mine is providing a lot of money for the Indonesia’s economy which is why it is important for the government. The mine also has negative environmental impacts on the ecosystem the mine led to deforestation and water pollution. This also resulted in poor living conditions for the local people and all the animals that live there. The local Papuan people used to make a living by fishing but because of all the pollution this isn’t possible anymore. The mine also caused for displacement and land grabbing for those local communities, and led to human rights being abused and conflicts with security forces.
The huge impact these mines can have highlights the need for sustainable land use and conservation efforts that have to be integrated. The companies who own the mines, like Freeport-McMoRan, have a responsibility to make sure that their operations do not harm the environment or local communities from where they are working. The should respect the environment and of course the human rights of the local people.
I found it shocking that those companies ,who aren’t even from Indonesia but from the US, are only focusing on making money and not about what they are doing to the environment. I think it is very important that NGO’s and governments should raise awareness of the environmental damage the gold people are buying is having. The mining companies can of course also invest in sustainable technologies and practices that minimize their environmental impact and contribute to the development of renewable energy.
So, achieving SDG 15 will require a collective effort from governments, businesses, and individuals. By working together, we can protect the planet's ecosystems and ensure a sustainable future for all.
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