Is it sustainable for Indonesia to relocate its capital city in Kalimantan?

Hi Pauline and Linna, We are certainly not the only ones concerned about the move. Kalimantan forests are one of the most threatened by deforestations related to loggings and palm oil plantations. Not to mention it is home to our most beloved, endangered, Orangutan. We must protect them at all costs, and promises were made by our government to have the new capital as a "smart, green city" and built not on protected forests, even saying there will be support for rehabilitation on those forests instead. Perhaps this is possible and that having the capital there might stop illegal logging and forest fires.

Now, I'd like to think that it is as beautiful as it sounds, however, I am still very concerned about the repercussions of the move. I see first hand how investors were dying to get their hands on lands in Kalimantan after the official announcement of this move. People seeing the big investment & business opportunities, literally fighting for a piece of that pie, bringing up more land disputes than ever. Despite the government's promises, I worry more about our people's capability to treasure the environment without seeing it as "natural resources", something ripe for the taking to be utilized, but instead as an essential entity for the lives of humankind.

So whether it is sustainable or not, truly depends on the government's ability to control and monitor the people, the corporations, and themselves. #Jakarta #Indonesia #Deforestation #English