NUSANTARA - In realizing the vision of the Nusantara Capital as a Forest City, the Chairman of the Nusantara Capital Authority (NCA), Bambang Susantono, launched the Nusantara Green Pesantren program on Wednesday (17/01/2024). This program will align the development of pesantrens with sustainable principles.

"This (launch of Nusantara Green Pesantren) is a transformation of a pesantren (islamic boarding school). It's not just about planting trees but how a pesantren can become one of the forefront actors for greening or creating a sustainable forest city in Nusantara," said Bambang Susantono.

The event, held at the Yayasan Pondok Pesantren Hidayatullah in Pemaluan, North Penajam Paser Regency, also marked the kick-off for planting 10,000 trees in the Nusantara Green Belt. The Chairman of the NCA, along with officials from the NCA, such as the Deputy for Environmental and Natural Resources, the Deputy for Development Control, the Deputy for Financing and Investment, and others, planted trees together with residents of the Nusantara Capital.

The trees planted are types of endemic hardwood from Kalimantan and Multi-Purpose Tree Species (MPTS) or fruit-bearing trees that are beneficial to the community. The tree seedlings include durian, longan, mango, crystal guava, blangiran, candlenut, and rambutan.

In addition to tree planting, which will be developed into agroforestry, this program will implement rainwater harvesting or sustainable ablution water, installation of solar panels, responsible waste management, vertical farming, and environmentally friendly home gardens.

"Nusantara Green Pesantren is one of the activities of the Inclusive Forest City, a collaborative program between the NCA and the Sabuk Hijau Nusantara Movement initiated by Katadata, Jejakin, and BenihBaik, involving the people of IKN as development actors," said the Deputy for Environmental and Natural Resources of the NCA, Myrna Safitri.

This activity began with the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Joko, handing over trees to the heads of pesantrens, witnessed by donors and officials from the NCA at the Construction Workers' Housing, Nusantara.

CEO and Co-Founder of Katadata, Metta Dharmasaputra, explained the collaboration. Benih Baik carries out planting, tree care, and involves the community as an empowerment action for the surrounding community. Jejakin monitors and calculates the carbon from the planted trees. Katadata Green conducts socialization, communication, and publication of this collaboration. "We hope this will continue to grow not only in Nusantara but also in other regions," said Metta.

Founder of BenihBaik, Andy F. Noya, expressed gratitude for the Nusantara Green Pesantren program. According to him, the previously unproductive land has become productive, empowering, and beneficial, especially for the community around the pesantren.

"This program is appropriate and on target. We must support it together," said Basri. He also hoped that programs like this would continue to be developed by the government in collaboration with various stakeholders. So that this vast land becomes productive, benefiting the wider community.

Nine donors contributed to the success of this event, including Pertamina, Grab, Telkomsel, Amarta, ASDP, Bank DBS, Apical, MPM Group, and Chandra Asri. Pungky Widiaryanto, Director of Forestry and Water Resources Development at NCA, added, "The collaborative program, Nusantara Green Pesantren, aligns with the principles of developing an environmentally friendly forest city as desired by President Jokowi."

As the new face of Indonesia, the Nusantara region is crucial to preserve. This includes aligning the goals of Nusantara as a sustainable smart forest city and being an essential part of economic development.
 

(Sunday, January 21st  2024)

Photo Documentation
Source: Nusantara Capital Authority Public Relations