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https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-01-09/new-indonesia-capital-imperils-ancient-eden-with-ecological-disa/101835652>
'The twisting road that leads to Indonesia's future capital is lined with dense
rainforest and pockets of plantations, punctuated every so often with monkeys
enjoying a laze out on the tarmac.
Located in eastern Borneo — the world's third-largest island — Nusantara is set
to replace sinking and polluted Jakarta as Indonesia's political centre by late
2024.
However, the two-hour drive from Balikpapan city to the sweeping green expanse
of Nusantara's "Point Zero" reveals the scale of the new capital's potential
impact on a biodiverse area that is home to thousands of animal and plant
species.
With construction set to ramp up this year, environmentalists warn building a
metropolis will speed up deforestation in one of the world's largest and oldest
stretches of tropical rainforest, estimated to be more than 100 million years
old.
"It's going to be a massive ecological disaster," said Uli Arta Siagian, a
forest campaigner for environmental group Walhi.
The island that Indonesians call the "lungs of the world" — shared with
Malaysia and Brunei — is home to long-nosed monkeys, clouded leopards,
pig-tailed macaques, flying fox-bats and the smallest rhinos on the planet.
But by 2045, the Indonesian government says Nusantara will host 1.9 million
residents, more than twice Balikpapan's population, importing a wave of human
and industrial activity into the heart of Borneo.
The relocation to the 2,560 square kilometre area follows capital moves by
Brazil to Brasilia — considered an urban utopia failure — and Myanmar to the
ghost town of Naypyidaw.'
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
