Statement of President of the Republic of Indonesia during Inspection to Mentawir Nursery at Sepaku District, North Penajam Paser Regency, East Kalimantan Province, March 14, 2022

This afternoon, Ministers, the Governor of East Kalimantan, and I visited the Seedling Nursery Center at Mentawir in Bangkirai Hill. This nursery has not fully completed yet. It is expected to be able to produce approximately 15-20 million tree seedlings in next 6-7 months.

I have often said that we will start developing the capital city by rehabilitating existing forests, so that the areas in the capital and its surrounding areas return to their original functions, namely as tropical forests and not monoculture forests which are homogeneous. The plants to be planted here include nyatoh wood, meranti, lime, agarwood, and guavas. They will attract animals or birds to reoccupy their habitat in the capital.

I think it is in accordance with our initial spirit and we hope that with replanting measures, the habitat will return to its original state and the atmosphere at Nusantara capital city will match the concept we have planned, namely a forest city.

That concludes my remarks on this auspicious occasion. Furthermore, later millions of seeds produced from the Mentawir Nursery will be brought to the capital to be planted in critical lands. They are also to be planted among existing eucalyptus plants so that when the eucalyptus is cut down, these plants such as meranti, lime, nyatoh, gaharu, bangkirai, guava will be already big and tall enough.

I conclude my statement. I thank you.

Wassalamu’alaikum warahmatullah wabarakatuh.

(EST/HD/LW)