Diving paradise Derawan Island faces mounting waste crisis

2026-02-19 - 01:33

Berau Regent Sri Juniarsih Mas inspects plastic waste on Feb. 11 during the inauguration of a waste-sorting facility on Derawan Island, East Kalimantan. The popular diving and snorkeling destination is grappling with a mounting waste crisis fueled by tourism and marine debris, underscoring the growing waste management challenges faced by many small islands across Indonesia’s vast archipelago.