Batang Toru

Batang Toru is a fragile ecosystem in Indonesia, notable as the only habitat of the critically endangered Tapanuli orangutan. Recent floods and landslides in November 2024, devastating the local population and potentially killing up to 11% of the Tapanuli orangutan population, have brought increased scrutiny to extractive industries operating in the area. Investigators are examining whether mining companies contributed to the disaster by damaging the Batang Toru and Garoga ecosystems. Furthermore, a US$1.67 billion China-backed hydropower dam project in Batang Toru is now in limbo. The Indonesian government, under President Prabowo Subianto, is considering revoking permits linked to the dam, citing forest damage. This decision has rattled investor confidence in Indonesia's renewable energy sector and highlights the tension between economic development and environmental protection in the region.