RRI.CO.ID, Nusantara - The Indonesian government is developing its future capital, Nusantara (IKN), by combining infrastructure development with large-scale ecosystem restoration, adopting a rewilding approach to create a sustainable forest city.

Head of the Nusantara Capital Authority (OIKN) Basuki Hadimuljono said the strategy goes beyond conventional reforestation by restoring natural ecosystems that had previously been degraded. He made the remarks while receiving professors and students from The University of Tokyo, Japan, along with the rector, university leaders, and students from Mulawarman University at the OIKN Office in Nusantara on Thursday 30 July 2026.

"We are carrying out rewilding in this area. It is not just reforestation, but restoring the degraded natural ecosystem. That is what makes it a Forest City," Basuki said.

According to Basuki, much of the IKN area was previously covered by monoculture plantations, which sustained lower levels of biodiversity than natural forests. For that reason, environmental restoration has been integrated into the construction of the new capital from the outset.

The Nusantara Capital Authority has implemented a series of restoration measures to improve environmental quality. Between 2022 and 2026, approximately five million trees have been planted as part of the area's ecological recovery program.

The restoration initiative is also complemented by the construction of wildlife corridors to reconnect habitats that had previously been fragmented. To date, two wildlife corridors have been built along the Balikpapan–Nusantara toll road to help preserve biodiversity.

Through its rewilding strategy, the Nusantara Capital Authority aims to maintain 65 percent of the capital's total area as protected land. The policy is intended to ensure that urban development and ecosystem conservation advance in tandem.

The Forest City concept in Nusantara is therefore measured not only by the number of trees planted, but also by the success of restoring ecological functions and protecting biodiversity. The approach reflects Indonesia's broader effort to build a new capital where sustainable development and nature can coexist.