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'What about Kalimantan's mighty forests?' Capital city plan raises questions about environment
Amid aggressive deforestation on the island of Borneo in the past years, one cannot help but wonder what will happen to the forests of East Kalimantan once the government kicks off its plan to build a new capital city there.
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Lush green characterizes the Bukit Soeharto forest park in Bukit Soeharto in East Kalimantan in this photo taken on May 17. (JP/N. Adri)
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ndonesia’s Kalimantan region, just like the whole of Borneo Island, is strongly associated with mighty tropical rainforests and often dubbed one of the remaining lungs of the world. It is home to indigenous groups as well as unique flora and fauna.
Amid aggressive deforestation on the island in the past years, one cannot help but wonder what will happen to the forests once the government kicks off its plan to build a new capital city to take some of the burden off Jakarta.
The grandiose plan to build a capital city that is smart and green has raised concern among residents of the area, who fear the land would be worked on without their consent.
“If the government wants to use these forests, they should not only talk with local authorities. They must meet us first, because here we often see plots of land opened without us knowing who granted the permission, said Masrip, 60, a resident of the town of Penajam in North Penajam Paser regency.
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo announced in August his ambitious plan to move the capital city to an area covering part of North Penajam Paser and part of the neighboring regency of Kutai Kartanegara in the province of East Kalimantan. The decision is based on in-depth studies that found the area to be relatively free of natural disaster risks, such as volcanic eruptions and earthquakes.
While most areas in the two regencies have lost some of their forest cover to plantations, mining and other causes, there are at least two areas in the region where tree cover is still in good condition: Bangkirai National Park and the Bukit Soeharto forest area.
The 1,500-hectare national park, located in Samboja district of Kutai Kartanegara, is a tropical rainforest conservation area. Trees in the national park are up to 50 meters high and more than 150 years old.
