Researchers have proposed that migration, as part of population and environmental interactions, provides a
response to environmental change [18]. Often, people migrate to extract minerals, to escape local conflicts and
natural calamities, to better their livelihoods. This is evident in our villages we visited. The evidence shows that in
early 60s, there were ethnic conflicts in many parts of Indonesia that caused people to move to safer places. In
addition, the occurrences of natural calamities such as the eruption of Mount Ruang have displaced the people in
Laingpatehi village to nearby islands. People report that they mostly move for economic and social reasons. For
example, some moved from the Bolaan Mongondong District to Tatelu Village to exploit gold.