POLICY
BALIKPAPAN (FORESTHINTS.NEWS) - World Bank Country Director for Indonesia and Timor Leste Satu Kahkonen drew on the organization’s global experience to point out three key principles that merit reflection in terms of forest restoration in Indonesia's new capital city.
The first of these principles is the requirement for detailed planning prior to restoration, sustained management after the planting of seedlings, and ongoing engagements with local communities and local governments.
Considering it is easier and less expensive to conserve than to restore forests, the second principle the country director emphasized is the prioritization of existing forest conservation.
The third principle she outlined, meanwhile, pertains to forest restoration and rehabilitation efforts which are to be supported by the creation of incentives such as forest-related livelihood activities and payments for services, including payments for carbon stored in forests.
“Getting buy-in and support from communities for forest restoration and conservation is a vital element for success,” she stressed.
Kahkonen highlighted these issues in a forum - on operational steps for the implementation of a forest city in the development of Indonesia’s new capital city - held in Balikpapan and chaired by Indonesian Environment and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya (Mar 22).
She delivered her perspective after seeing first-hand the new capital site areas earmarked for forest restoration, including the transformation of eucalyptus tree plantations into natural forests which will later be developed as part of the wilderness zone in the new capital city.
The photos below show a 45-hectare post-harvesting eucalyptus tree plantation which is to be turned into natural forests as part of continuing efforts by the Indonesian forestry authorities in the development of the new capital city. This is only part of the tens of thousands of hectares of eucalyptus tree plantations - sliced away from a pulpwood concession for the new capital city - which are targeted for transformation into natural forests.
The country director also visited in-person the Mentawir plant nursery where seedlings are currently being produced to be prioritized for transforming the eucalyptus tree plantations into natural forests.
The following photos are of the nursery which is targeted to span 120 hectares by October this year with a maximum production capacity of 15-20 million seedlings per year. This will ensure long-term stable and sustainable transformation of the eucalyptus tree plantations into natural forests in the new capital city.
At the forum, World Bank Country Director Kahkonen commended the Government of Indonesia for the impressive and welcome forest restoration efforts it has embarked on, noting their importance for Indonesia’s climate goals as well as its people.
Minimum 75% for green areas exceeded
At a subsequent dinner meeting with the country director, Minister Nurbaya pointed out that the three principles raised in the forum are an integral part of Indonesia’s legally-binding priorities in the development of its new capital city.
"One of our legally-binding priorities is to ensure that, given its legal designation as a forest city, three-quarters of Indonesia’s new capital will be composed of green areas, most of which will be forest cover," she elaborated.
To achieve this, she continued, the transformation of eucalyptus tree plantations into natural forests, as well as the conservation of existing forests, are among the government's primary undertakings at the new capital site.
“The new capital city is set to be comprised of more than 80% green areas, thus exceeding the 75% legally-mandated minimum requirement - as per the President's order in a recent cabinet meeting," said Minister Nurbaya.
The Law on the State Capital signed by President Joko Widodo in mid-February this year states that the new capital city development area is to encompass a total land area of approximately 256,142 hectares across a single landscape in the province of East Kalimantan, with an adjoining marine area spanning around 69,189 hectares.
Of the total land area, approximately 56,180 hectares have been allocated specifically for the new capital city itself, of which 6,671.52 hectares will serve as the core central government zone. The land development area outside of the capital city itself will cover around 199,962 hectares.
"Greater than 80% of the total land area of approximately 256,142 hectares apportioned for the construction of the new capital city is targeted to become green areas largely covered by forest," Minister Nurbaya explained, reiterating that this percentage target had been ordered by the President.
The photos below depict the location of the core central government zone spanning 6,671.52 hectares, or 2.6% of the new capital city development area, which are dominated by eucalyptus tree plantation blocks.
Social forestry, agrarian reforms
Meanwhile, Minister Nurbaya also emphasized that social forestry and agrarian reforms form part of engagements with indigenous and local communities, an area in which local governments are playing a synergistic role by coordinating and collaborating to accelerate the implementation of these engagements on the ground level.
"Among our clearly-targeted legally-binding priorities are engagements with indigenous and local communities focusing on social forestry and agrarian reforms in the development of our new capital city. This is one of our top concerns and priorities, as repeatedly underlined by the President," she affirmed.
The minister added that these wide-reaching social forestry and agrarian reforms are a top priority agenda of President Widodo's administration, extending beyond the development of the new capital city.
Wildlife corridors, restoration efforts
Minister Nurbaya further explained that protecting wildlife corridors also forms part of the government’s legally-binding priorities in the development of the country's new capital city.
“An area of more than 81,000 hectares has been targeted for the protection of endemic and charismatic flora and fauna habitat,” she said.
According to the minister, over 120,000 hectares have been targeted for the protection of essential ecosystem areas. She also described how restoration efforts are taking place across an area of over 36,000 hectares and that the restoration of river riparian areas is targeted at more than 67 km.
"Our reputation relies on the responsible development of our capital city, especially in meeting the minimum legal requirement of 75% green areas - which, by order of the President, we have exceeded by setting a level of over 80%. In doing this, we are ensuring that our new capital city is on track towards becoming a true forest city,” Minister Nurbaya asserted optimistically to conclude her comments.
RELATED STORIES
POLICY
BALIKPAPAN (FORESTHINTS.NEWS) - World Bank Country Director for Indonesia and Timor Leste Satu Kahkonen drew on the organization’s global experience to point out three key principles that merit reflection in terms of forest restoration in Indonesia's new capital city.
The first of these principles is the requirement for detailed planning prior to restoration, sustained management after the planting of seedlings, and ongoing engagements with local communities and local governments.
Considering it is easier and less expensive to conserve than to restore forests, the second principle the country director emphasized is the prioritization of existing forest conservation.
The third principle she outlined, meanwhile, pertains to forest restoration and rehabilitation efforts which are to be supported by the creation of incentives such as forest-related livelihood activities and payments for services, including payments for carbon stored in forests.
“Getting buy-in and support from communities for forest restoration and conservation is a vital element for success,” she stressed.
Kahkonen highlighted these issues in a forum - on operational steps for the implementation of a forest city in the development of Indonesia’s new capital city - held in Balikpapan and chaired by Indonesian Environment and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya (Mar 22).
She delivered her perspective after seeing first-hand the new capital site areas earmarked for forest restoration, including the transformation of eucalyptus tree plantations into natural forests which will later be developed as part of the wilderness zone in the new capital city.
The photos below show a 45-hectare post-harvesting eucalyptus tree plantation which is to be turned into natural forests as part of continuing efforts by the Indonesian forestry authorities in the development of the new capital city. This is only part of the tens of thousands of hectares of eucalyptus tree plantations - sliced away from a pulpwood concession for the new capital city - which are targeted for transformation into natural forests.
The country director also visited in-person the Mentawir plant nursery where seedlings are currently being produced to be prioritized for transforming the eucalyptus tree plantations into natural forests.
The following photos are of the nursery which is targeted to span 120 hectares by October this year with a maximum production capacity of 15-20 million seedlings per year. This will ensure long-term stable and sustainable transformation of the eucalyptus tree plantations into natural forests in the new capital city.
At the forum, World Bank Country Director Kahkonen commended the Government of Indonesia for the impressive and welcome forest restoration efforts it has embarked on, noting their importance for Indonesia’s climate goals as well as its people.
Minimum 75% for green areas exceeded
At a subsequent dinner meeting with the country director, Minister Nurbaya pointed out that the three principles raised in the forum are an integral part of Indonesia’s legally-binding priorities in the development of its new capital city.
"One of our legally-binding priorities is to ensure that, given its legal designation as a forest city, three-quarters of Indonesia’s new capital will be composed of green areas, most of which will be forest cover," she elaborated.
To achieve this, she continued, the transformation of eucalyptus tree plantations into natural forests, as well as the conservation of existing forests, are among the government's primary undertakings at the new capital site.
“The new capital city is set to be comprised of more than 80% green areas, thus exceeding the 75% legally-mandated minimum requirement - as per the President's order in a recent cabinet meeting," said Minister Nurbaya.
The Law on the State Capital signed by President Joko Widodo in mid-February this year states that the new capital city development area is to encompass a total land area of approximately 256,142 hectares across a single landscape in the province of East Kalimantan, with an adjoining marine area spanning around 69,189 hectares.
Of the total land area, approximately 56,180 hectares have been allocated specifically for the new capital city itself, of which 6,671.52 hectares will serve as the core central government zone. The land development area outside of the capital city itself will cover around 199,962 hectares.
"Greater than 80% of the total land area of approximately 256,142 hectares apportioned for the construction of the new capital city is targeted to become green areas largely covered by forest," Minister Nurbaya explained, reiterating that this percentage target had been ordered by the President.
The photos below depict the location of the core central government zone spanning 6,671.52 hectares, or 2.6% of the new capital city development area, which are dominated by eucalyptus tree plantation blocks.
Social forestry, agrarian reforms
Meanwhile, Minister Nurbaya also emphasized that social forestry and agrarian reforms form part of engagements with indigenous and local communities, an area in which local governments are playing a synergistic role by coordinating and collaborating to accelerate the implementation of these engagements on the ground level.
"Among our clearly-targeted legally-binding priorities are engagements with indigenous and local communities focusing on social forestry and agrarian reforms in the development of our new capital city. This is one of our top concerns and priorities, as repeatedly underlined by the President," she affirmed.
The minister added that these wide-reaching social forestry and agrarian reforms are a top priority agenda of President Widodo's administration, extending beyond the development of the new capital city.
Wildlife corridors, restoration efforts
Minister Nurbaya further explained that protecting wildlife corridors also forms part of the government’s legally-binding priorities in the development of the country's new capital city.
“An area of more than 81,000 hectares has been targeted for the protection of endemic and charismatic flora and fauna habitat,” she said.
According to the minister, over 120,000 hectares have been targeted for the protection of essential ecosystem areas. She also described how restoration efforts are taking place across an area of over 36,000 hectares and that the restoration of river riparian areas is targeted at more than 67 km.
"Our reputation relies on the responsible development of our capital city, especially in meeting the minimum legal requirement of 75% green areas - which, by order of the President, we have exceeded by setting a level of over 80%. In doing this, we are ensuring that our new capital city is on track towards becoming a true forest city,” Minister Nurbaya asserted optimistically to conclude her comments.
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