Nusantara, which is situated in East Kalimantan, is among the many areas with the richest biodiversity in Indonesia. There are lots of species which are endemic to the realm.
Based on the data of the Nusantara Capital Authority (OIKN), there are 3,889 species which are indicated to be discovered inside a 50-kilometer radius of the realm, together with mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, crops, bugs, and arachnids.
Nonetheless, information from the Worldwide Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) signifies that 440 species, or 11.8 % of the full recognized species, are weak, vital, or liable to extinction, and thereby in want of conservation.
This can’t be separated from the environmental issues recorded earlier than development work started in Nusantara.
Deforestation as a result of unlawful logging, forest fires, unlawful mining, enlargement of oil palm plantations, and forest encroachment have vastly modified Kalimantan’s forests.
Satellite tv for pc imagery launched by the Nationwide Aeronautics and Area Administration (NASA) additionally exhibits clear proof of depleting forest cowl within the Nusantara space.
As per the satellite tv for pc imagery, in April 2022, the forest cowl in Nusantara was nonetheless dense, whereas in February 2024, the impression of forest clearing was seen in a number of areas.
Deputy for surroundings and pure sources on the OIKN, Myrna Safitri, famous that the situation of Nusantara’s protected forests is way from ideally suited. Huge forest conversion in the previous few many years — means earlier than Nusantara’s development began — has modified its forests.
Based on her, the secondary forest cowl in Nusantara at present accounts for less than 16 % of the full 256,142 hectares of the brand new capital’s space. Subsequently, efforts are wanted to revive a minimum of 120 thousand hectares by 2045.
She affirmed that the event of Nusantara as a forest metropolis will prioritize nature sustainability and biodiversity safety. Efforts to revive the ecosystem can even be made to revive Kalimantan’s tropical forests.
One of many efforts has been the launch of the Biodiversity Administration Plan, which can function a highway map for Nusantara’s growth that continues to prioritize nature conservation and forestall the extinction of species within the new capital space.
The plan, which was launched on March 26, 2024, was created by means of discussions with specialists, teachers, native non-governmental organizations, and worldwide establishments.
The doc comprises a number of key factors relating to Nusantara’s growth and covers features reminiscent of preserving the forest ecosystem and the remaining wetlands, habitat preservation, species safety, and restoration efforts.
The plan might be applied for 5 years — from 2024 to 2029.
Associated information: OIKN turns to citizen science to guard biodiversity
Biodiversity in Nusantara
The OIKN has recognized seven areas in Nusantara and its surrounding areas which have excessive biodiversity.
The areas embrace the Mount Beratus Panorama, Soeharto Hill Forest Park, Balikpapan Bay, Sungai Wain Protected Forest, Samboja Lestari (rehabilitation heart), Muara Jawa sub-district, and Mount Parung.
The Wain River Protected Forest is a lowland forest unfold over 10 thousand hectares throughout the Balikpapan administrative space, which borders Nusantara. The protected forest comprises a major forest surrounded by forests which have been barely degraded as a result of forest fires prior to now.
Within the protected forest space, 42 varieties of mammals, 21 varieties of birds, and 4 varieties of reptiles have been discovered from 2016 to 2022. They included the blue-headed pitta, black hornbill, bay cat, and solar bear.
Balikpapan Bay has a water floor of round 120 km with a most width of seven km, and the shoreline of the bay is usually lined with mangroves. Balikpapan Bay is a habitat for estuarine crocodiles, inexperienced sea turtles, dugongs, and porpoises.
In the meantime, Gunung Parung within the western a part of Nusantara is a forest space that stretches from a manufacturing forest concession space to Meratus Mountains.
There are a number of protected species within the space, reminiscent of maroon leaf monkeys, brahminy kites, proboscis monkeys, and purple herons.
Soeharto Hill Forest Park, which stretches over an space of 64 hectares, is a conservation forest space in Nusantara. Based on OIKN information, at present, the land cowl consists of roughly 57 % forested space, and the remaining is used for unlawful actions, reminiscent of plantations, mining, and buildings.
The Soeharto Hill Forest Park is a habitat for clouded leopards, rhinoceros hornbills, and gray gibbons.
In the meantime, the animals that may be present in Muara Jawa, which was as soon as a mangrove forest space, embrace proboscis monkeys and collared kingfishers.
Samboja Lestari, which spans 1,852 hectares, is a rehabilitation heart for a number of species, reminiscent of orangutans and solar bears.
It is usually residence to Far Jap curlews, Rhacophoridae, gray gibbons, and maroon leaf monkeys.
On account of the excessive worth of biodiversity and current challenges, the OIKN is working onerous to appreciate sustainable growth. To this finish, a number of strategic steps have been ready underneath the Biodiversity Administration Grasp Plan.
To revive the ecological operate of Kalimantan’s forests, the director of forest and water sources utilization growth on the OIKN, Pungky Widiaryanto, stated that the authority will designate 65 % of Nusantara’s space as a protected space.
It will embrace 40 thousand hectares of secondary forests, 2 thousand hectares of mangrove forests, 55 thousand hectares of business/monoculture plantation forests, and 80 thousand hectares of agriculture, mining, and oil palm plantations.
In the meantime, 25 % of Nusantara’s space has been earmarked for infrastructure growth whereas the remaining 10 % can be used for agricultural functions.
Aside from restoring the ecological operate of forests, concord between people and wildlife across the Nusantara space additionally must be paid consideration to.
Widiaryanto affirmed that the OIKN has devised measures to forestall human-wildlife battle within the new capital.
Associated information: OIKN to construct wildlife crossings to protect biodiversity in Nusantara
Concord with nature
Contemplating the pure habitats of untamed animals in areas in and round Nusantara and the potential of their encountering people, the OIKN is planning to construct a buffer zone on the outskirts of town.
The buffer zone will later be planted with sure bushes that can function pure limitations that forestall wild animals from coming into residential areas.
“This buffer can operate to discourage wild animals which have the potential to be in battle with people, so they don’t enter town,” Widiaryanto knowledgeable.
OIKN can be taking note of efforts to protect wildlife habitats within the Nusantara space. One of many predominant issues is guaranteeing that wild animals can cross the brand new capital space safely.
One of many measures to deal with this can be a plan to construct wildlife crossings, each underpasses and overpasses, which might assist wild animals cross the Nusantara growth space safely.
“We’re figuring out the paths which are presumably taken by animals. We’ll construct synthetic corridors which are adjusted to the animals’ habitats,” he knowledgeable.
As a part of anticipatory measures towards human-wildlife battle, the OIKN, in cooperation with the Ministry of Surroundings and Forestry, will type a particular workforce to deal with such conflicts.
On the finish of the day, the event of Nusantara as the brand new nationwide capital just isn’t solely about constructing infrastructures and relocating the seat of presidency.
Greater than that, there’s a dream of sustainable future growth in Nusantara, which might not solely purpose to create a contemporary metropolis, but additionally defend and handle the biodiversity round it.
Collaboration between the federal government, academicians, environmental activists, and the group is significant to observe and make sure the implementation of biodiversity administration plans in Nusantara’s growth.
Associated information: OIKN outlines three clusters for Nusantara Forest Metropolis realization
Translator: Shofi Ayudiana, Raka Adji
Editor: Tia Mutiasari
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