Journal Article

Tree biodiversity in Bornean lowland forest: What are the key species for forest city development in the new capital city of Indonesia?

Atmoko, Tri, Setyawati, Titiek, Yassir, Ishak, Brearley, Francis Q., Sitepu, Bina Swasta, Adinugroho, Wahyu Catur, Mukhlisi, Sayektiningsih, Tri

2025

Overview

The national capital of Indonesia is in the early stages of relocation from the island of Java to East Kalimantan; Indonesia’s new capital city (Ibu Kota Negara; IKN) will be called Nusantara. The development of IKN will utilise the concept of a forest city representing the lowland forest of Borneo containing its rich biodiversity. To realize this concept, sufficient data and information regarding the status of tree diversity in this area is required. To provide this information, research was conducted in sample plots totaling 20.75 ha spread over eight locations in East Kalimantan. The selection of priority tree species for rehabilitation was carried out by using the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) method with the criteria of conservation status, endemicity, climax species, distribution, food potential, ethnobotanical potential, animal food, and tree growth rates. In the sample plots, we found 5,745 trees representing 571 species with the family Dipterocarpaceae dominating, followed by Euphorbiaceae, Phyllanthaceae, Malvaceae and Annonaceae. Based on the priority categories of restoration, most of the species proposed for planting belong to the Dipterocarpaceae, in the genera Anisoptera (2 species), Anthoshorea (2 species), Cotylelobium (1 species), Dipterocarpus (3 species), Dryobalanops (1 species), Hopea (3 species), Richetia (3 species), Rubroshorea (7 species), Shorea (4 species), and Vatica (4 species). Hopea rudiformis is a Critically Endangered and Borneo endemic species with the highest score, and the only species included in 1 st priority, followed by 14 species in 2 nd priority, 62 species in 3 rd priority, and the remainder in 4 th priority. About 18% of tree species with potential food sources can be planted to meet the 10% target of forest cover to contribute to food security in IKN. Samboja Research Forest, Sungai Wain Protection Forest, and Bangkirai Hill are forested areas with high tree species diversity and can act as a source of seeds for the IKN nursery.

• Publisher: Public Library of Science
• Subject: Analytic hierarchy process / Biodiversity / Biological diversity / Biology and Life Sciences / Borneo / Cities / City planning / Climate change / Conservation of Natural Resources / Conservation status / Density / Dipterocarpaceae / Ecology and Environmental Sciences / Endangered species / Endemic species / Environmental impact / Flowers & plants / Food security / Food sources / Forestry research / Forests / Genetic diversity / Geographical distribution / Hopea / Identification and classification / Indonesia / Methods / Native species / Plant diversity / Plant species / Plantations / Protection and preservation / Rehabilitation / Relocation / Seeds / Species diversity / Tree growth / Trees / Trees - classification / Trees - growth & development / Veganism / Wildlife conservation