Dr. Kei Otsuki and Dr. Ari Susanti Discuss Environmental and Social Impacts of Indonesia’s Capital Relocation at UGM

On August 7th, Dr. Kei Otsuki, and Dr. Ari Susanti of the Following Frontiers project, participated in a collaborative discussion at the University of Gadjah Mada (UGM) exploring the development challenges posed by Indonesia’s new capital, Nusantara. Hosted by UGM’s Faculty of Geography and Faculty of Forestry, the event examined the complex environmental and social dynamics involved in relocating Indonesia’s capital to East Kalimantan.

In her talk, Dr. Otsuki highlighted critical sustainability issues arising from Nusantara’s rapid urban development, emphasizing the importance of considering ecological factors like land use, energy distribution, and the preservation of vital ecosystems such as mangrove forests. These environmental features, she noted, are at risk of substantial change, potentially leading to long-term impacts on biodiversity and local communities.

The discussion underscored that urbanization pressures, accelerated by the capital relocation, may put pressure on local populations and disrupt existing environmental systems. Dr. Otsuki’s insights contribute to the Following Frontiers project’s broader focus on how frontier developments reshape social, economic, and environmental landscapes in Southeast Asia, aligning with the project’s mission to advance research on sustainable and equitable development practices.