IKN sets record for most trees planted in a city park

Nusantara Capital City (IKN) has broken an Indonesian World Records Museum (Muri) record through the largest tree-planting action in a city park at one time.

More than 2,000 seedlings of various tree species were planted along the Sanggai River Basin (DAS), in the Core Government Area (KIPP) of IKN, in Penajam Paser Utara, East Kalimantan, on Saturday morning.

The achievement surpassed the initial target of 1,780 tree seedlings.

“This record was made to be broken. After this, perhaps Balikpapan, Samarinda or Penajam will plant the most. Let other cities in Indonesia plant more trees to preserve our natural environment,” said Myrna Asnawati Safitri, Deputy for Environment at the IKN Authority (OIKN), before the planting began.

In this green initiative, various types of hardwood trees were planted, including ulin (Eusideroxylon zwageri), meranti (Shorea sp), bangkirai (Shorea laevis), as well as fruit trees such as durian (Durio).

“Hopefully within five years they will bear fruit and we can enjoy them together,” said Head of OIKN Basuki Hadimuljono.

He planted his own tree seedling in an area near the bridge leading to the pedestrian path around the Sanggai River area.

The Muri record-breaking action was officially attended by 2,308 registered participants, although the number present on site was estimated to exceed that figure.

The participants consisted of OIKN officials and staff, representatives of the East Kalimantan Provincial Government, and local officials from areas around IKN such as Balikpapan, Samarinda, Tenggarong, and Penajam.

In addition, the action involved representatives from ministries and agencies, universities, the public, students, as well as TNI-Polri personnel.

The planting crowd spread along nearly one kilometre on both sides of the river, including descending the riverbank slopes to plant in pre-prepared holes.

Director of Green Transformation at OIKN Agus Gunawan chose a planting hole at the top of the river cliff, close to the pedestrian path.

“So I can always see the growth of the tree,” said Agus, who is also responsible for the procurement of green energy such as solar power at IKN.

At the end of the event, Deputy for Environment Myrna Safitri once again fired up the participants’ enthusiasm to continue preserving the environment.

“Let us compete in good deeds, fastabiqul khairat,” she said.