Wildlife Return Signals IKN Forest City Ecosystem Recovery

RRI.CO.ID, Nusantara - The return of various wildlife species, such as sun bears, maroon langurs, sambar deer, and diverse bird populations, serves as concrete evidence that the forest city ecosystem in the Nusantara Capital City (IKN) is successfully taking shape following extensive reforestation efforts launched in 2022.

Head of the IKN Authority (OIKN), Basuki Hadimuljono, explained on Friday, June 5, 2026, that the presence of these animals marks a positive transition for the new capital.

"The presence of diverse wildlife is a sign that a healthy ecosystem is beginning to form, along with efforts to restore the area's natural functions through the smart-forest city concept," Basuki Hadimuljono said in Nusantara, as quoted by Antara.

Structurally, IKN is designed specifically as a forest city where 65 percent of the total land area consists of tropical rainforests restored through meticulous reforestation. The region was originally dominated by Industrial Forest Plantations (HTI) consisting of Eucalyptus trees.

However, continuous and sustained planting initiatives have successfully transformed the landscape back into a forest rich in biodiversity.

To further reinforce this ecological transition, a tree-planting event was held on Friday, June 5, 2026, to commemorate World Environment Day. The collaborative event was organized by OIKN alongside mining contractor PT Pamapersada Nusantara and Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) at the Wanagama IKN forest area.

Operating under the theme Rooting for the Future, the environmental campaign was attended by several prominent figures. First, representing the new capital's leadership, the event welcomed the Head of the IKN Authority, Basuki Hadimuljono. In terms of academic partnerships, the gathering included Rector of Universitas Gadjah Mada, Ova Emilia.

Finally, from the central government's forestry sector, the campaign was attended by Muhammad Zainal Arifin, who serves as the Secretary of the Directorate General of Watershed Management and Forest Rehabilitation (PDASRH) under the Ministry of Forestry.

Wanagama IKN itself covers a vast 621-hectare forest expanse situated inside Nusantara’s Central Government Core Area (KIPP). The dedicated zone is being developed as an institutional hub for education, scientific research, and tropical rainforest ecosystem restoration, directly supporting IKN's foundational vision of a city existing in harmony with nature.

According to the IKN Authority, the development of the new capital consciously rejects a purely industrial or concrete-focused approach to urbanization.

"The development of the IKN is not only focused on physical development, but also on efforts to restore natural life so that it can thrive alongside human activities," Basuki noted.

For the leadership team at IKN, environmental management is not viewed as an annual event, but rather as an active, daily responsibility. The administrative and corporate activities carried out on-site look beyond merely planting saplings, they aim to restore the entire biological lifecycle of the landscape.

Basuki concluded that the return of sensitive species like sun bears and maroon langurs demonstrates that the reconstructed ecosystem is actively providing viable habitats where local biodiversity can thrive. Moving forward, planting trees and safeguarding the environment is being formally integrated into the daily lifestyle of civil servants (ASN) and citizens living and working within Nusantara. ***