Statement of President of the Republic of Indonesia during the Inspection at Mentawir Nursery in North Penajam Paser Regency, East Kalimantan Province, September 21, 2023

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

The Mentawir nursery is a nursery that we have prepared for making the Nusantara Capital and its surroundings green. There was still no progress when the first time we visited here. Now the progress has almost reached 100 percent. The finishing step is still needed. [It is estimated] to produce 15 million seeds [per year]. Seeds of ornamental plants including tabebuya (trumpet trees), red lip are available. There are also various types of trumpet trees including violet, white, yellow. All types are available.

In addition, there are also fast-growing species, sengon (silk tree), albizia, Indonesian bay leaf (Syzygium polyanthum), and other endemic plants. The endemic plants, dipterocarpaceae family, include camphor tree, ironwood tree, trees belonging to Shorea family (meranti, belangeran). All types are available. So, it is already complete. Minister of Forestry, Ministry of Forestry’s Director General, and Head of IKN Authority will manage where the plants can be planted. The planting will beautify the IKN and restore the forests around the IKN to become tropical rainforests, not homogeneous forests.

Reporter
Sir, will this also include the forest rehabilitation in former mining areas?

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

Yes, certainly. There is already a Ministerial Regulation of the Energy and Mineral Resources which regulates that every mining company must have a nursery. However, it is also fine that the Government helps them. The point is we want to improve the environment, to rehabilitate forests, including natural forests, degraded tropical rain forests, and mangrove forests that need to be restored. We will restore everything. We will do everything. It is a basic thing. It demonstrates our resolute commitment to carrying out restoration and rehabilitation.

Reporter
Is there any inauguration target, Sir?

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

I have officially inaugurated the nursery. Don’t you notice? There’s no need for another inauguration. The important things are finishing process and starting the production. We will also prepare the planting management on the ground so that all plants can grow.

Reporter
When will the planting start, Sir?

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

Once the rainy season starts, we will start the planting. We already have a million of seeds. The most important thing is like I said at the beginning. As for now, that’s all.

(AP/MUR)