Greening, animal releases help preserve IKN ecosystem: minister

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Greening activities and the release of animals in capital city (IKN) Nusantara, East Kalimantan, are aimed at maintaining the natural ecosystem in the area, Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) Minister Basuki Hadimuljono has said.

"Thus, we can continue the concept of forest and livable city of the IKN Nusantara in the future," he said here on Saturday.

The new national capital's retention basin facility, which now has baby fish, is expected to support the natural ecosystem in the city.

Hadimuljono informed that the "MBH" retention basin, which is located in the Central Government Core Area (KIPP), has a capacity of 66 thousand cubic meters and a depth of five to six meters. Its function is to store rainwater.

The plan is to establish 60 retention basins in the KIPP area alone based on President Joko Widodo's directives.

"The construction of these retention basins does not dig the soil, but utilizes the riparians to hold surface water runoff according to the soil contours," Hadimuljono explained.

The MBH retention basin uses a Smart Water Management System for tending green open areas.

The system uses automatic sprinklers fitted with sensors that can detect temperature and humidity.

Earlier, Minister Hadimuljono accompanied First Lady Iriana, Second Lady Wury, and other members of the Onward Indonesia Cabinet Era Solidarity Action Organization (OASE KIM) on a tour of the MBH retention basin.

The activity involved the release of 300 birds, comprising sooty-headed bulbul (Pycnonotus aurigaster), spotted dove (Spilopelia chinensis), yellow-vented bulbul (Pycnonotus goiavier), and the Javan myna (Acridotheres javanica), and the spreading of 350 red Nile tilapia baby fish.

The group also planted a blackboard tree (alstonia scholaris) to support environmental conservation and improve the IKN ecosystem.