Illegal gold mining damages 14 hectares of Jantho forest reserve

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Between 2023 and May 2026, illegal gold miners damaged approximately 14 hectares of the Jantho Nature Reserve in Indonesia’s Aceh province, a critical site for the reintroduction of the critically endangered Sumatran orangutan. According to the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi), the surge in illegal activity followed a period where global gold prices more than doubled, increasing from approximately $1,928 an ounce in early 2023 to over $4,600 by May 2026. The Jantho site has hosted nearly 200 orangutans since 2011, and local community leaders representing 13 villages have formally rejected the mining operations.

Consequences

The destruction of the habitat threatens the survival of reestablished orangutan populations and risks long-term water contamination for the Krueng Aceh River watershed. This pollution could negatively impact downstream communities reliant on the river for irrigation, fisheries, and clean drinking water, with potential socioeconomic effects on regional health and development.

Sources

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