The President of the Republic of Indonesia, Joko Widodo, officially launched the Wanagama Nusantara forest on Friday (Sep. 13) to support the development of Nusantara Capital City (IKN).
This launchment was held in Wilderness Zone B of the Central Government Core Area (KIPP), IKN.
The inauguration of this educational and research forest, which will be managed by Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), was marked by the president signing a certificate on Sukai wood, witnessed by the UGM Rector and several ministers.
The Rector of UGM, Professor Ova Emilia, stated that UGM’s Wanagama Nusantara initiative focuses on developing a multidisciplinary educational and research forest.
This forest is located within the Central Government Core Area of IKN and covers 621 hectares.
“Through the inauguration of the Wanagama Nusantara forest, UGM is committed to contributing to the realization of IKN as a smart forest city through the Wanagama Nusantara concept,” Professor Emilia said.
The rector hopes Wanagama Nusantara will support IKN’s vision of being a forest city, one of President Joko Widodo’s priorities, as mandated by Article 22 of Law No. 3 of 2022.
Wanagama Nusantara’s existence is part of UGM’s commitment to supporting the development of IKN as a sustainable city.
“We hope Wanagama Nusantara will become the window to the tropical world, with key programs including the development of forest education zones, the establishment of the Institute for Future Life, restoration, reforestation, and enrichment planting,” she added.
As an educational and research forest, the UGM Rector explained that Wanagama Nusantara integrates various disciplines and faculties at UGM.
The forest is also expected to become a model for tropical rainforest restoration, managing hydrology and microclimate in IKN, and conserving native species of tropical rainforest plants from extinction.
Additionally, Wanagama Nusantara will serve as a facility for developing several scientific clusters that support the IKN ecosystem.
UGM also plans to establish the Institute for Future Life as an educational and research facility within Wanagama Nusantara, using a smart and green building concept.
Pungky Widia Rianto, Director of Forestry and Water Resources Development at the IKN Authority, added that Wanagama Nusantara covers 621 hectares in total, with an initial development of 28 hectares.
In the future, he mentioned that there will be an expansion with deforestation carried out according to specific zones, such as tropical forests, energy forests, pharmaceutical forests, and eco-tourism forests.
“In addition to serving researchers and students, this forest will also be open to the general public and students at all educational levels,” he explained.
After the launch of Wanagama Nusantara, President Jokowi, along with several ministers, symbolically planted trees and released several birds. They were followed by ministers, the UGM Rector, students, partners, and the surrounding IKN community.
Notable figures present at the event included Minister of State Secretary Pratikno, Minister of Environment and Forestry Siti Nurbaya, Minister of Public Works and Housing Basuki Hadimuljono, and Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi.
Another was the Commander of the Indonesian National Armed Forces, Agus Subiyanto, and the Chief of the Indonesian National Police Listyo Sigit Prabowo, along with leaders from UGM and its faculties.
Author: Agung Nugroho
Post-editor: Afif
Photographer: Firsto