Bukit Bangkirai, Kalimantan Timur, 12 Juli 2023 – In an effort to build the Nusantara Capital City (IKN) in harmony with the preservation of nature through the concept of Sustainable Forest City; the Nusantara Capital Authority (OIKN) invited three non-governmental organizations (NGOs), namely World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Indonesia, Jejak Pulang Foundation, and the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation (BOSF) to work together. The collaboration with these three NGOs was marked by the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU), in the Bukit Bangkirai Ecotourism Area, East Kalimantan, on Wednesday (12/7/2023).

"Today we want to take one step out of the millions of steps we must do in order to save our mother earth, and also the sustainability of the ecosystem on the planet that we love," said Head of OIKN, Bambang Susantono, at the signing of the MoU for the Partnership for Environmental and Wildlife Conservation.

He said that biodiversity and the environment must be considered in parallel to the development of IKN in becoming a Sustainable Forest City which is a new world concept. Bambang explained that the concept of a forest city symbolizes extraordinary wealth that needs to be combined with modern technology so that there will be many new innovations in building the IKN.

Bambang also explained that the development of IKN needs to consider three global issues, firstly, climate change which is an urgent problem. Second, environmental issues about how to peacefully coexist between humans, nature, and culture. Third is preserving the biodiversity of our nature. For this reason, the OIKN invites all parties to work together in the development of IKN.

BOSF as one of the non-profit organizations in Indonesia whose task is to protect and preserve orangutans, welcomes this collaboration which was initiated by the OIKN to protect environmental ecosystems including orangutans.

"Orangutans, as the only great ape species in Asia, play a central role in maintaining the balance of ecosystems in Borneo's biodiversity-rich forests. They are extraordinary and rare creatures, but unfortunately, the population is declining due to human activities that ignore the needs of wildlife," said BOSF Secretary Riana Andam Dewi.

Furthermore, she said that cooperation with OIKN is an important step for BOSF because it can increase collaboration and concrete actions in conservation, habitat protection, orangutan rehabilitation, orangutan release, and restoration of critical areas with the active participation of the surrounding community.

A positive response to this collaboration also came from the Jejak Pulang Foundation represented by Juliarta Bramansa Ottay, Chairman of the Jejak Pulang Foundation. He hopes that the collaboration with OIKN can provide a model for Indonesia and the world so that humans can have a lifestyle that is in harmony with nature. "Through this collaboration, we hope that IKN as Nusantara city will become a city of Indonesian culture that has a good relationship with its environment, as exemplified by our ancestors, and what we hope for in the future," he added.

Jejak Pulang Foundation is an orangutan rehabilitation organization established since 2014 in Samboja, East Kalimantan.  Currently, Jejak Pulang Foundation employs 90 people, of which 90 percent are local residents who have helped 13 orangutans return to the wild.

WWF-Indonesia also welcomes IKN's development plan and collaboration in maintaining biodiversity in the region. "We are proud to be able to participate and bring into reality IKN as a green capital city, in the form of a forest capital city that can grow together with the community in a sustainable way," said Aditya Bayunanda, Executive Director and CEO of WWF-Indonesia.

Aditya added that to achieve IKN's aspiration as a Sustainable Forest City, IKN needs an ecosystem support system that is adequate. Good planning is required in order to mitigate the impact on wildlife, local communities, and the environment surrounding the IKN. "As one of the biggest ecosystem supporters that are needed to ensure sustainability, of course, we are also in an area called 'The Heart of Kalimantan', so this is an important way for us to collaboratively maintain the landscape within our new capital city," he added.

WWF Indonesia will support the development of IKN in the form of capacity building, scientific analysis, and monitoring tools, as well as biodiversity management.

Communication Team of the Nusantara Capital Authority

Contact Person: OIKN Secretariat

(+62) 811-8115-8888

Website           : ikn.go.id

Instagram        : instagram.com/ikn_id

Facebook        : facebook.com/iknindonesia1

Twitter             : twitter.com/ikn_id

Youtube           : IKN Indonesia

#KotaDuniauntukSemua

#Nusantara

#IbuKotaNegara