By: Anung Wijaya (Dinas Kelautan dan Perikanan (DKP) Provinsi Sulawesi Tenggara)

North Konawe Regency is located in the northern part of Southeast Sulawesi, bordering Morowali Regency, Central Sulawesi. This area is a New Autonomous Region (DOB) from the expansion of Konawe Regency.

The waters of North Konawe Regency became one of the ecological observation targets in this expedition. The potential of the region, especially nickel mining, places North Konawe Regency as a district that issues a fairly high Mining Business License (IUP).

The existence of nickel mining activities in North Konawe Regency, of course, has a positive impact on regional economic growth. Contributing to regional income, it also provides employment for the local community.

In North Konawe Regency, there is a conservation area called Lasolo Bay Nature Tourism Park (TWA). The conservation area was established through Minister of Forestry Decree No. 451/Kpts-II/1999, dated June 17, 1999 with an area of 81,800 hectares which includes Bahulu Island, Labengki Island, and other small islands. The conservation area is located not far from the mining area around Molawe Sub-district and Langgikima Sub-district.

In #XPDCSULTRA, the waters around the Molawe and Langgikima mining areas and the waters of the Lasolo Bay TWA became a coral reef observation dive area. Some dive points have quite high turbidity caused by sedimentation from land and also sediment carried by the Lasolo River flow.

Visibility is limited, requiring us to descend slowly and keep our fellow divers at a distance. Frog leg strokes (fins) should be done regularly, so that sediment or mud that has settled at the bottom of the water is not stirred up and causes the water column to become murky.

There are several types of coral growth forms that are still found in these murky waters such as coral massive. Coral massive is a coral that is round like a boulder, which sometimes also resembles a human brain. The surface of this coral is smooth and dense. This type belongs to a group of corals that are quite tolerant of extreme water conditions.

While diving, we hope that the advancement of mining does not lead to the destruction of coastal ecosystems due to sedimentation, the loss of local fishermen's livelihoods, and the reduction of fishermen's catches.

Indeed, the existence of mining activities, sooner or later, will affect the condition of the coastal ecosystem in the area. Mining can be developed by taking into account the rules of environmental management. Because in principle, conservation areas are formed with the aim of preservation in ensuring the sustainability of coastal and marine resources.

The effectiveness of area management is also influenced by the environmental management of companies that carry out mining activities. The synergy of environmental management involving various parties, especially mining management companies in the coastal area of North Konawe Regency is needed, to equalize the concept of sustainable environmental management.