Reviewing Mentawir Nursery In East Kalimantan, Jokowi: IKN Development Begins With Land Rehabilitation

President Jokowi during a visit to the Mentawir Nursery in East Kalimantan (Photo: Rusman - Press Bureau of the Presidential Secretariat)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) said that the construction of the National Capital (IKN) of the Archipelago would begin with forest rehabilitation. The goal is for the forests in East Kalimantan to return to a tropical nature.

He said this when he visited the nursery located in Mentawir Village, Sepaku District, North Penajam Paser Regency, East Kalimantan, Monday, March 14.

"This is what I have often said that we will start with IKN development by rehabilitating existing forests, so that the areas in IKN and its surroundings return to their original functions, namely as tropical forests and not monoculture forests, which are homogeneous," said Jokowi. quoted from a written statement, Monday, March 14.

Later, the Mentawir Nursery is expected to be able to produce around 15 to 20 million tree seedlings, which include nyatoh wood, meranti, lime, agarwood, and guava in about six months.

Furthermore, after planting, it is hoped that the animals that live around IKN Nusantara will return. Moreover, these seeds will be planted on land that is already critical.

"I think our initial enthusiasm is like this and we hope that by replanting the existing habitat it will return to its original state and the atmosphere at IKN Nusantara will be exactly like the concept we had planned, namely a forest city," said the former Governor of DKI Jakarta.

"Second, for the plants between the eucalyptus plants that are there so that when the eucalyptus is cut down these plants, meranti, lime, nyatoh, gaharu, bangkirai, guava are all in a high position," he added.

For information, President Jokowi arrived at the Mentawir Nursery at around 17.15 WITA. He then went around to see a number of facilities and tree seedlings in the nursery.

When he saw the facility, Jokowi was accompanied by his ministers. Those who attended were Minister of State-Owned Enterprises Erick Thohir, Minister of Investment/Head of BKPM Bahlil Lahadalia, and Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono.

In addition, the Minister of Environment and Forestry Siti Nurbaya Bakar, Minister of National Development Planning/Head of Bappenas Suharso Monoarfa, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, Governor of East Kalimantan Isran Noor, and Head of the Archipelago IKN Authority Bambang Susantono and his deputy, Dhony Rahajoe were also present.