Nusantara plants more than 2,000 trees, sets national record

Nusantara (ANTARA) - Nusantara, Indonesia’s future capital city under development in East Kalimantan, set a national record for the largest simultaneous tree-planting activity at an urban park, with more than 2,000 seedlings planted on Saturday.

The Nusantara Capital Authority (OIKN) organized the initiative, bringing together government officials and members of the public to plant various tree species in an open area along the Sanggai River watershed within the city's government core area in North Penajam Paser District.

Ahead of the activity, OIKN Deputy for Environment and Natural Resources Myrna Asnawati Safitri said the event was intended to encourage similar initiatives in other regions across Indonesia, expressing hope that the newly established record would eventually be surpassed.

OIKN Head Basuki Hadimuljono took part in the activity, which included planting fruit trees such as lai (Durio kutejensis), a smaller durian species native to Kalimantan Island known for its thick, orange-colored flesh.

“Let us hope the trees will bear fruit in five years and that we can enjoy them together,” he said after planting a tree near a bridge.

The event also featured hardwood perennials, such as ironwood trees (Eusideroxylon zwageri), meranti (Shorea sp.), and bangkirai (Shorea laevis).

A total of 2,308 people registered for the activity, although organizers estimated that actual participation exceeded that figure.

In addition to OIKN officials, participants included representatives of regional governments, ministries and agencies, universities, schools, the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), the National Police (Polri), and local communities.

Participants spread out along nearly one kilometer of both riverbanks, with some participants descending the slopes toward the river to plant seedlings in pits that had been prepared beforehand to ensure broad coverage throughout the watershed area.

Nusantara has been under development since 2022 in parts of North Penajam Paser and Kutai Kartanegara districts.

The government aims to establish Nusantara as the political capital in 2028, with construction focused on legislative and judicial facilities planned to continue throughout 2026.

Related news: Private investment in Indonesia's new capital reaches US$4.56 billion

Translator: Arumanto/Novi, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Bayu Prasetyo
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