Bapelitbang Worried That IKN Development Will Affect Proboscis Monkey Conservation In Balikpapan Bay

Proboscis Monkey Illustration. (Unsplash)

KALTIM - The Planning, Research and Development Agency (Bapelitbang) of North Penajam Paser Regency (PPU) said that the construction of the Nusantara Capital (IKN) in East Kalimantan (Kaltim) is feared to be affected by Balikpapan Bay.

The Head of Economy, Infrastructure and Natural Resources of the PPU Regency Bapelitbang Rahmania Muchtar said the IKN development could have an impact on environmental damage.

He is worried that the mangroves in Balikpapan Bay and its surroundings will die or experience a decline in function, so that the biodiversity in the area will be lost, either due to changing locations or due to death.

"Balikpapan Bay and its surroundings are inhabited by a variety of species that need protection, such as dolphins, proboscis monkeys, and others. There are even various flora. The main food of proboscis monkeys is the perepat type of mangrove, so if the mangrove dies, the proboscis monkey population is also threatened," Rahmania said in a statement. Samarinda, East Kalimantan, Wednesday 3 August.

Another thing he is worried about is the social and economic side of the community, such as local fishermen, both those who catch fish in the sea and the cage system.

Rahmania cannot deny that every development is almost certain to have an impact. Likewise, IKN development is also feared to be affected by Balikpapan Bay, because among other things this location is the main point of loading and unloading of materials for construction at IKN.

In addition to loading and unloading goods, this location will also become densely populated with human activities, so it is feared that there will be damage to the area, material spills and the disposal of waste or garbage in the bay and its coastal areas.

According to him, based on the pattern of the boundary line and the direction of river flow, the watershed (DAS) in the IKN area is a watershed with a dendritic pattern that empties into Balikpapan Bay, so the upstream part must also receive special attention.

He added, there are a number of important things that need to be maintained in the watershed at IKN, namely deforestation due to land clearing for development must be kept to a minimum.

Determination of regulations for mitigating potential disasters during the reforestation range up to 60 percent of the green zone, especially in the IKN Central Government Core Area (KIPP).

"Enforcement of reclamation regulations in ex-mining areas as a whole in the IKN National Strategy Area (KSN), mapping the condition of watershed zones (upstream, middle, downstream) as well as policies related to management of the zoning partially or comprehensively," he said.

For this reason, Rahmania suggested the establishment of the Balikpapan Bay Management Agency. The reason is that Balikpapan Bay requires more attention to support development to the sustainability of IKN.

"For that, it is necessary to form a Balikpapan Bay Management Agency or whatever its name is, the important thing is that this bay gets more attention as an IKN supporting area," he concluded.