Walhi warns of potential environmental damage due to population migration to IKN

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Wahana Lingkungan Hidup (Walhi) Indonesia warns of the potential for population migration to the Nusantara Capital City (IKN) as infrastructure development increases. This event will impact Kalimantan's deforestation.

"After all, IKN is the epicenter of life. It's as if it has a magnet that everyone will flock to," said Walhi Indonesia's Forest and Plantation Campaigner, Uli Arta Siagian, in a written statement to Tempo, Thursday, March 7, 2024.

Uli compared the migration to what has happened in Jakarta. People looking for work, Uli explained, often come to the capital city to improve the economy by getting new jobs.

"Population migration there (IKN) will lead to the opening of even wider land, such as settlements, etc.," he said. This phenomenon, Uli said, will affect the environment.

Previously, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) satellite or the United States Aviation and Space Agency highlighted this forest shrinkage. NASA satellites photographed a comparison of Kalimantan forest areas in April 2022 with the latest conditions in February 2024. The result is that the green forest area is shrinking.

Troy Pantouw, Special Staff to the Head and Spokesperson for the IKN Authority denied that Kalimantan's forests were deforested due to the IKN development. According to him, the claim of forest destruction is false.

"I expressly say there has been no deforestation of Kalimantan forests due to the construction of IKN. That is very wrong. What we are doing is reforesting," Troy said in a written message to Tempo on Wednesday, March 6, 2024.

SAVERO ARISTIA WIENANTO 

Editor's Choice: Govt Says Jakarta Remains Capital City Before Presidential Decree on IKN Transfer Issued

Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News