Sangihe: Ocean Gems Threatened by Mining

Sangihe is not dependent on the rice supply from Manado on mainland Sulawesi, as long as they can cultivate sago, sweet potatoes, and bananas in their backyards.

KOMPAS/KRISTIAN OKA PRASETYADI

Melly Kuhanta (41) uses springs to process sago at the people\'s plantation in Bowone Village, South Central Tabukan, Sangihe Islands, North Sulawesi, on Saturday (7/8/2021).

Just a series of dots on the map, the Sangihe Islands are truly green gems among Nusa Utara (north islands) in the vast, deep waters of the Sulawesi Sea. The islands’ land and waters remained undisturbed until the plan to develop a gold mine arrived.

Crystal clear water flows from a spring among the dense plantations in Bowone village, Sangihe Islands regency, North Sulawesi. The water flows through a hose into a tarp-lined square wooden basin in a house.