In brief
The Nusantara Capital City Authority reported that 1,600 hectares of forest and land in the IKN area burned from July to October 2026, largely within the Bukit Soeharto Forest Park. Suspicions point to deliberate clearing by PT AJP, leading to staged administrative sanctions. OIKN also announced strengthened monitoring, re‑forestation, and fire‑preparedness initiatives across concession holders.
On 31 October 2026, the Nusantara Capital City Authority (OIKN) announced that 1,600 hectares of forest and land in the IKN area had burned between July and October 2026, a pattern that the authority links to deliberate land‑clearing by a palm‑oil company. The investigation centre was led by Myrna Asnawati Safitri, OIKN Deputy for Environment and Natural Resources, who highlighted that the burned areas were concentrated in the Bukit Soeharto Forest Park and within the concession of PT AJP.
Field mapping and satellite imagery confirmed a rectangular burn pattern, signalling systematic clearing rather than accidental or natural fires. The fires sketched elongated shapes across the landscape, a hallmark of planned land‑clearing operations. The analysis identified that roughly 900 to 1,000 hectares of the burned land fell within Bukit Soeharto Forest Park, an adjacent 500 hectares were inside PT AJP’s concession area, and the remaining burned patches were scattered on privately owned land.
The authority’s findings were corroborated by sightings of new plant seedlings in several post‑fire locations, including oil palm and banana trees. According to Safitri, the presence of these young plants underscores a cutting‑and‑burning tactic that is common in the region.
Myrna Asnawati Safitri, OIKN Deputy for Environment and Natural Resources:
Even in several locations after the fires, new plant seedlings, such as oil palm and banana trees, were found. This pattern of cutting vegetation and then burning it is a common and recurring tactic.
In response to the findings, OIKN has already imposed an initial administrative sanction on PT AJP, a palm‑oil plantation company whose entire operational area lies within the IKN boundaries. The sanction is a form of government coercion, following continuous monitoring of hotspot activity through satellite imagery since early August and the confirmation of fires within the company’s concession.
OIKN is pursuing a staged enforcement protocol, beginning with written warnings and progressing to government orders that mandate land restoration. Safitri warned that failure to comply could lead to the suspension or revocation of business permits. The authority has also handed over its evidence to the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Forestry for coordinated follow‑up and potential further action.
Beyond punitive measures, the agency is tightening field monitoring and requiring all concession holders within the IKN area to enhance their fire‑preparedness systems. This includes the deployment of early‑warning technology, the establishment of firebreaks, and the implementation of protocols for rapid response to hotspots.
Strategic Reforestation and Fire‑Preparedness Initiatives
As part of its long‑term management plan, OIKN is accelerating reforestation efforts across the burned land. The authority plans to plant native species across the 1,600 hectares of affected area, with an emphasis on restoring ecosystem services and reducing future fire risk.
Concurrently, the custodian of IKN’s environmental integrity is coordinating with local communities, private land owners, and the concession holders to establish a shared responsibility framework. This framework will involve joint monitoring deployments, community-based fire watch groups, and the integration of traditional ecological knowledge into the management plan.
Implications for Sustainable Development in the Capital Region
The findings highlight the tension between large‑scale agricultural development and the conservation of critical forest ecosystems in Indonesia’s future capital zone. The role of administrative sanctions signals a governmental shift toward stricter enforcement of environmental regulations within the IKN area.
Should the measures prove effective, they may serve as a template for other regions where palm‑oil expansion jeopardizes forested landscapes. The combination of rapid satellite monitoring, ground‑level inspections, and a progressive sanctioning regime demonstrates a model that balances economic interests with ecological stewardship.
In the coming months, OIKN will continue to publish updates on the enforcement outcome, the progress of reforestation projects, and the effectiveness of fire‑preparedness initiatives. Stakeholders in the IKN area and beyond will closely monitor the authority’s actions as indicators for Indonesia’s broader commitment to sustainable development and climate resilience.
