The vision for Nusantara, Indonesia’s ambitious new capital, is that of a “forest city”—a sustainable urban center designed to coexist with the lush rainforests of East Kalimantan. However, the reality on the ground has been a persistent struggle against the region’s deep-rooted history of extraction. The Nusantara Capital City Authority (OIKN) is now escalating its efforts to purge illegal mining and deforestation from the capital’s delineation area, signaling a zero-tolerance approach to environmental encroachment.
Agung Dodit Muliawan, an official with the OIKN and chairperson of the Task Force for Combating Illegal Activities in the IKN region, reaffirmed this commitment during a visit to Sepaku on Sunday. Muliawan stated that law enforcement will be applied firmly against any activities that harm the environment, emphasizing that the protection of the capital’s ecological integrity is non-negotiable as construction progresses in the North Penajam Paser and Kutai Kartanegara districts.
The crackdown is not merely about policing boundaries but about fundamentally shifting the land-use paradigm of the region. For decades, East Kalimantan has been a global hub for coal and palm oil, often at the expense of primary forests. As the Indonesian government moves its administrative heart from the sinking, overcrowded Jakarta to the jungles of Borneo, the OIKN finds itself in a race to secure the land before illegal operators can capitalize on the shifting landscape.
The Battle for Tahura Bukit Soeharto
At the center of this environmental preservation effort is the Bukit Soeharto People’s Forest Park (Tahura). As a designated conservation forest, Tahura is legally off-limits to all forms of mining. Yet, the area has long been a target for illegal encroachment, with clandestine mining operations attempting to exploit the mineral-rich soil under the cover of the canopy.
:quality(30):format(webp):focal(0.5x0.5:0.5x0.5)/kaltim/foto/bank/originals/20251204_bukit-soeharto-ya.jpg "Forest Destruction Tahura")
To combat this, the OIKN has implemented a multi-pronged strategy. Physical barriers and prohibition signs have been erected across protected zones to remove any ambiguity regarding the legality of mining activities. These signs serve as a first line of defense, but Muliawan notes that they are backed by intensified patrols and a strengthened legal framework intended to ensure that “law enforcement continues without exception.”
Beyond policing, the authority is focusing on land restoration. The goal is to reclaim areas already degraded by illegal activities and return them to their natural state, ensuring that the “forest city” is not just a marketing slogan but a biological reality. This involves educating local communities on the long-term value of forest preservation over the short-term gains of illegal extraction.
From Coal Trucks to Courtrooms: The Enforcement Record
The OIKN’s approach has shifted from warnings to prosecutions. A cross-ministerial and inter-agency task force, established in 2023, has been tasked with monitoring, investigating, and dismantling illegal networks within the IKN area. This task force blends the authority of the OIKN with the investigative power of the National Police and regional law enforcement.
Recent operations have yielded significant results, targeting the logistics of the illegal coal trade. The task force has successfully intercepted illegal shipments, including the seizure of seven trucks transporting coal and the disruption of shipments destined for local jetties. These cases have been handed over to the relevant judicial authorities to ensure that the perpetrators face criminal penalties.
The scale of the enforcement is detailed in several high-profile interventions:
| Case/Location | Action Taken | Enforcing Agency |
|---|---|---|
| Bukit Tengkorak | Closure of illegal mine | OIKN Task Force |
| Samboja Hospital Area | Investigation into illegal mining | East Kalimantan Regional Police |
| Coal Transport (P21) | Prosecution of illegal transport | National Police/OIKN |
| Regional Jetties | Seizure of illegal coal shipments | Inter-agency Task Force |
Balancing Law and Local Livelihoods
One of the most complex challenges facing the OIKN is the presence of local communities whose activities predated the official establishment of the Nusantara capital. In many parts of East Kalimantan, traditional land use and small-scale mining have existed for generations, often in a legal gray area.
Recognizing that brute force alone cannot secure the region, the IKN Authority is engaging in active dialogue with these communities. The goal is to find equitable solutions for those who were already utilizing the land before the delineation of the new capital. By opening these channels of communication, the OIKN hopes to turn local residents from potential collaborators with illegal miners into guardians of the forest.
To facilitate this, the authority has launched official reporting channels, encouraging the public to act as eyes and ears on the ground. Citizens are urged to report suspected violations in the Tahura area or other protected forests via the official IKN Authority complaint hotline at +62 811 5999 767.
Disclaimer: This report contains information regarding legal proceedings and law enforcement actions. For specific legal guidance regarding land rights in East Kalimantan, please consult a licensed Indonesian legal professional.
As the infrastructure of Nusantara continues to rise, the OIKN’s ability to maintain the boundary between urban development and forest conservation will be the ultimate measure of the project’s success. The next critical checkpoint for the authority will be the upcoming quarterly review of the 2023 task force’s impact, where the government is expected to provide updated data on hectares of restored land and the status of pending illegal mining prosecutions.
We want to hear from you. Do you believe a “forest city” is achievable in a region with such a strong mining history? Share your thoughts in the comments below or share this story on social media.
