The Impact of Nickel Mining Activities on Watershed Hydrology and Coastal Sedimentation

Efrianto Efrianto; Muhammad  Chaerul; Ismail  Marzuki; Natsar  Desi; Mahmud Mahmud; Eris Nur  Dirman

doi:10.37899/journallalifesci.v7i1.3059

Efrianto Mahasiswa Magister Rekayasa Infrastruktur dan Lingkungan Universitas Fajar Makassar, Indonesia
Muhammad Chaerul Magister Rekayasa Infrastruktur dan Lingkungan Universitas Fajar Makassar, Indonesia
Ismail Marzuki Teknik Kimia Fakultas Teknik Universitas Fajar Makassar, Indonesia
Natsar Desi Magister Rekayasa Infrastruktur dan Lingkungan Universitas Fajar Makassar, Indonesia
Mahmud Magister Rekayasa Infrastruktur dan Lingkungan Universitas Fajar Makassar, Indonesia
Eris Nur Dirman Magister Rekayasa Infrastruktur dan Lingkungan Universitas Fajar Makassar, Indonesia

DOI: https://doi.org/10.37899/journallalifesci.v7i1.3059

Keywords: Nickel mining, Watershed Hydrology, Coastal Sedimentation, NDVI, NDTI

Abstract

growing rapidly and have the potential to put pressure on the hydrological system of the Watershed (DAS) and the dynamics of sedimentation in coastal areas. The applied open-pit mining system causes extensive land clearing and reduced vegetation cover, which can increase surface runoff and soil erosion. This study aims to analyze the spatial relationship between nickel mining land clearing, watershed hydrological response, and coastal sedimentation levels during the period 2016–2025. The data used are multi- temporal Sentinel-2 Level-2A satellite images analyzed using the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) to identify the condition of mining land clearing and the Normalized Difference Turbidity Index (NDTI) to represent the level of sedimentation and turbidity of coastal waters. Spatial analysis was carried out based on watershed units to examine the upstream–downstream relationship between the intensity of mining land clearing and sedimentation responses in the estuarine zone. The results show that watersheds with a dominant low NDVI value tend to experience increased surface runoff and potential soil erosion, which in turn contributes to increased coastal sedimentation as indicated by relatively high NDTI values. These findings confirm a strong link between land cover changes due to nickel mining activities, watershed hydrological responses, and coastal sedimentation intensity. This research emphasizes the importance of a watershed-based approach in nickel mining environmental management and sedimentation impact mitigation efforts to maintain the sustainability of coastal ecosystems.

References

Agussalim, M. S., Ariana, A., & Saleh, R. (2023). Kerusakan lingkungan akibat pertambangan nikel di Kabupaten Kolaka melalui pendekatan politik lingkungan. Palita: Journal of Social Religion Research, 8(1), 37–48. https://doi.org/10.24256/pal.v8i1.3610

Aikal Baharim, M. S., Adnan, N. A., Mohd, F. A., Seman, I. A., Izzuddin, M. A., & Aziz, N. A. (2022, July). A review: progression of remote sensing (RS) and geographical information system (GIS) applications in oil palm management and sustainability. In IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science (Vol. 1051, No. 1, p. 012027). IOP Publishing.

Andi Baso Sofyan A. P., Fadlin, F., Arifin, D., Insanu, R. K., & Sutaji, A. A. M. (2024). Pemetaan deforestasi dan perubahan tutupan lahan di wilayah pertambangan nikel Kecamatan Pomalaa memanfaatkan teknologi penginderaan jauh. Journal of Geomatics Engineering, Technology, and Science, 2(2), 50–55. https://doi.org/10.51967/gets.v2i2.35

Azis, T. A., Wijaya, C. M., Niwanda, A., Rahmadani, P., Ilmi, N., Kardiana, E., & Restu, R. (2025). Spatiotemporal Analysis of Coastline Changes in Kecamatan Singkil Using Landsat 8 Satellite Imagery. Jurnal Geografika (Geografi Lingkungan Lahan Basah), 6(1), 58-65.

Barus, M. D. B., Andi Baso Sofyan A. P., Artati, Y., Nanda, G., & Kharisma, A. Z. M. (2023). The effect of vegetation density on the total suspended solid (TSS) concentration in the aquatic area of Pomalaa District. Journal Geografikal, 4(2).

Erfina, & Sjarmidi. (2019). Evaluasi fungsi ekosistem di pertambangan nikel Kecamatan Pomalaa, Sulawesi Tenggara. Jurnal Keselamatan, Kesehatan Kerja dan Lindungan Lingkungan, 5, 19–26.

Fitriani, W., Emiyarti, E., & Pratikino, A. G. (2021). Sebaran logam berat nikel (Ni) pada air di perairan Kecamatan Pomalaa Kabupaten Kolaka. Jurnal Sapa Laut (Jurnal Ilmu Kelautan), 6(3), 177. https://doi.org/10.33772/jsl.v6i3.20984

Fonseka, P., & Karunarathne, A. Y. (2024). Impacts of Kalu River Estuary Changes on Nearby Coastal Zones from 2017 to 2020: An Integrated Analysis using GIS and DSAS.

Hyldmo, H. D. S., Wardhani, I. S., Kurniawan, N. I., Cahayati, D. D., Rye, S. A., & Vela-Almeida, D. (2025). Urgent transition, urgent extraction? Global decarbonization, national governance, and local impacts in the Indonesian nickel industry. Environmental Research Letters, 20(5), 054003.

Katkani, D., Babbar, A., Mishra, V. K., Trivedi, A., Tiwari, S., & Kumawat, R. K. (2022). A review on applications and utility of remote sensing and geographic information systems in agriculture and natural resource management. International Journal of Environment and Climate Change, 12(4), 1-18.

Katupotha, K. N. J., & Gamage, S. G. (2024). Changes in Coastal Landforms from the Poonaryn Peninsula to the Malwathu Oya (Aruvi Aru) Estuary, Northwestern Coastal Zone (NWCZ) of Sri Lanka. Vidyodaya Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences, 9(02). http://doi.org/10.31357/fhss/vjhss.v09i02.02

Kelley, L. C. (2025). Restorying displacement by writing reproduction back in: a critical physical geography of intersecting plantation, migration, and climate extremes in Sulawesi, Indonesia. Globalizations, 1-26. https://doi.org/10.1080/14747731.2025.2553937

Kochanek, A., Generowicz, A., & Zacłona, T. (2025). The role of geographic information systems in environmental management and the development of renewable energy sources—A review approach. Energies, 18(17), 4740.

Kolibongso, D., Alfani, H. G., Loinenak, F. A., Sembel, L., & Purba, G. Y. S. (2024). Pengaruh sedimentasi terhadap tutupan terumbu karang di perairan Arfai, Manokwari, Indonesia. Jurnal Kelautan Tropis, 27(2), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.14710/jkt.v27i2.22130

La Maga, S., Malik, N., & Marei, D. (2025). Degradasi lingkungan dan dampaknya terhadap kegiatan usaha tani di sekitar lokasi pertambangan nikel di Kabupaten Konawe Selatan, Sulawesi Tenggara. Analisis Kebijakan Pertanian, 23(1), 113–133. https://doi.org/10.21082/akp.v23n1.2025.113-133

Lakra, D., Singh, S. K., Gupta, S. K., & Kanga, S. (2024). Enhancing integrated resource management through remote sensing and GIS. Journal of Geography and Cartography, 7(1), 4265.

Lo, M. G. Y., Morgans, C. L., Santika, T., Mumbunan, S., Winarni, N., Supriatna, J., Voigt, M., Davies, Z. G., & Struebig, M. J. (2024). Nickel mining reduced forest cover in Indonesia but had mixed outcomes for well-being. One Earth, 7(11), 2019–2033. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oneear.2024.10.010

Nashath, M., Asmath, A., Harris, J., Nijamir, K., & Majeed, U. (2024). Impacts of anthropogenic pressures in the surface water quality of major lagoons in Sri Lanka. YSF Thematic Publication, 212.

Nizamani, M. M., Zhang, Q., Muhae-Ud-Din, G., Awais, M., Qayyum, M., Farhan, M., ... & Wang, Y. (2024). Application of GIS and remote-sensing technology in ecosystem services and biodiversity conservation. In Deep learning for multimedia processing applications (pp. 284-321). CRC Press.

Ouchra, H., Belangour, A., & Erraissi, A. (2022). A comprehensive study of using remote sensing and geographical information systems for urban planning. Internetworking Indonesia Journal, 14(1), 15-20.

Pambudi, P. A. (2025). The Paradox of Nickel Investment in Indonesia. Environmental Pollution Journal, 5(3), 299-319. https://doi.org/10.58954/epj.v5i3.339

Paryono, Sukoraharjo, S. S., Damar, A., Susilo, S. B., Dahuri, R., & Suseno, H. (2016). Analisis dinamika spasial dan temporal penggunaan lahan dan implikasinya terhadap sedimentasi di wilayah pesisir DAS Citarum. Jurnal Kelautan Nasional, 11(3), 189. https://doi.org/10.15578/jkn.v11i3.6118

Prasetyo, A. (2024). Analisis kadar nikel dan besi pada sedimen perairan pesisir Desa Fatufia, Kecamatan Bahodopi, Kabupaten Morowali, Sulawesi Tengah. Bioma: Jurnal Biologi Makassar, 9(1), 119–127. https://journal.unhas.ac.id/index.php/bioma

Purnama, M. F., Suprihanto, A., & Hadiyanto. (2024). Penilaian kualitas lingkungan perairan berbasis bioindikator (Gastropoda) di area dampak pertambangan nikel Kecamatan Pomalaa, Sulawesi Tenggara. Jurnal Profesi Insinyur Indonesia, 2(6), 359–370. https://doi.org/10.14710/jpii.2024.24930

Purnama, M., Prayitno, S. B., Muskananfola, M. R., & Suryanti, S. (2025). Existing Condition of Gastropods Community in Coastal Areas Affected by Nickel Overburden in Pomalaa District, Southeast Sulawesi Province, Indonesia. Biotropia, 32(1), 69-86.

Quamar, M. M., Al-Ramadan, B., Khan, K., Shafiullah, M., & El Ferik, S. (2023). Advancements and applications of drone-integrated geographic information system technology—A review. Remote Sensing, 15(20), 5039.

Ramaano, A. I. (2024). The potential significance of geographic information systems (GISs) and remote sensing (RS) in sustainable tourism and decent community involvement in African-rural neighborhoods. Journal of Electronic Business & Digital Economics, 3(3), 341-362.

Ruzikulova, O., Sharipov, Z., Samatova, G., Safarov, E., Ergasheva, Y., Tajekeev, Z., Jumayeva, S., & Abdurakhmanova, M. (2024). Comparative analysis of Sentinel-2 MSI and Landsat-8 OLI for enhanced land monitoring. E3S Web of Conferences, 590, 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/202459004009

Sangadji, N. S., & Malau, A. G. (2025). Analisis dampak pertambangan nikel PT X di Pulau Gag: Risiko lingkungan dan peluang ekonomi. Journal Publicuho, 8(3), 1309–1322.

Shaikh, M., & Birajdar, F. (2024). Advancements in remote sensing and GIS for sustainable groundwater monitoring: applications, challenges, and future directions. International Journal of Research in Engineering, Science and Management, 7(3), 16-24.

Sowmiya Narayanan, K. J., & Manimaran, A. (2024). Recent developments in geographic information systems across different application domains: a review. Knowledge and Information Systems, 66(3), 1523-1547. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10115-023-01969-5

Takwa, B. A., Taqdir, S., & Syarifuddin Tundreng, W. (2025). LOCAL KNOWLEDGE FOR COASTAL RESILIENCE: ADAPTIVE STRATEGIES OF BAJO FISHERS IN POMALAA, INDONESIA.

Widiatmaka, Suwarno, & Kusmaryandi, N. (2010). Karakteristik pedologi dan pengelolaan revegetasi lahan bekas tambang nikel: Studi kasus lahan bekas tambang nikel Pomalaa, Sulawesi Tenggara. Jurnal Ilmu Tanah dan Lingkungan, 12(2), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.29244/jitl.12.2.1-10

Zahra Vir Diannisa, & Prarikeslan, W. (2018). Analisis perubahan garis pantai pada bagian hilir DAS Batang Anai. Jurnal Buana, 3(3), 451–465.