Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Nusantara Capital City Authority (OIKN) has said that it will involve the community in collecting data and conducting analysis related to biodiversity in the new capital through the citizen science movement.

OIKN's deputy for environment and natural resources, Myrna Safitri, said here on Tuesday that the movement not only aims to increase public participation in research and development of the new capital (IKN), but also increase public knowledge and awareness about the importance of preserving biodiversity in Nusantara.

"So that children and adults will be more familiar with the various conditions that exist, with the biodiversity in IKN, by making observations and being involved in existing discourses," she explained.

Citizen science refers to a movement that involves the general public in research activities. It usually focuses on data collection and analysis related to a specific topic.

By involving people from diverse backgrounds, citizen science can produce more comprehensive data.

Related news: OIKN to build wildlife crossings to preserve biodiversity in Nusantara

Safitri said that OIKN will also launch a citizen forester program in the next few months. The program is part of the development of citizen science in Nusantara.

The citizen forester is a movement that invites the public to become involved in monitoring wildlife conservation. This involves observing, collecting data, and reporting on wild animals in Nusantara.

Based on OIKN data, 3,889 species are indicated to be within a 50-kilometer radius of Nusantara.

They include 168 species of mammals, 454 species of birds, 206 species of herpetofauna (reptiles and amphibians), 1,369 species of fish, and 735 species of plants.

Of them, 440 species or 11.8 percent of the total identified species are on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, which indicates that the species are vulnerable and threatened with extinction and require conservation efforts.

Therefore, the IKN Authority on Tuesday launched the Master Plan for Biodiversity Management in Nusantara.

The plan is designed to maintain and increase biodiversity in the ecosystem in Nusantara.

The steps in the plan include habitat preservation, species protection, restoration and rehabilitation of damaged ecosystems, and community involvement to promote sustainable management practices.

The plan aims to overcome threats to biodiversity, mitigate the impact of Nusantara development on biodiversity, and strengthen ecosystem resilience in the new capital city.

Related news: Committed to preserving biodiversity in new capital: OIKN

Translator: Shofi Ayudiana, Katriana
Editor: Aditya Eko Sigit Wicaksono
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