What's Happening in Nusantara
Indonesia is building its new capital, Nusantara, in the mountains of East Kalimantan, in Borneo. With this, the sound of chainsaws interrupts the sounds of the tropical rainforest that are part of the cultural heritage of the indigenous Balik community. A new documentary, Sound Guardians, a collaboration between Mongabay, Scientific American, and Project Multatuli, follows the efforts of scientists and local residents to capture this change in sounds.
Former President Joko Widodo led the change of Indonesia's administrative center away from Jakarta, the city that sinks the fastest in the world. Experts estimate that a third of Jakarta may be underwater by 2050 due to rising sea levels and excessive groundwater extraction. Official marketing describes Nusantara as a "smart forest city" designed to be completed by 2045.
Why it Matters
The construction of Nusantara has significant implications for the environment and local communities. The loss of natural habitats can lead to species extinction and loss of biodiversity. Additionally, the change in the sounds of the forest can affect the mental health and well-being of people living in the region.
The team of Wendy Erb, a bioacoustic scientist from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology in the US, who has been working in Kalimantan for a decade, is leading the efforts to record the sounds of the forest landscape as the capital is built. Her team has recorded sounds in diverse areas, from mountains to mangroves and caves. Erb describes these data as a "time capsule" that allows comparisons as the environment changes with rapid economic growth and construction.
The Mechanism Behind the Change in Sounds
The change in the sounds of the forest is a result of the alteration of the natural habitat due to construction and urban growth. As the forest is cleared and replaced by urban infrastructure, the natural sounds of the forest are replaced by construction and traffic sounds. This can have a significant impact on biodiversity and the health of species that depend on the forest to survive.
Bioacoustics is the science that studies the sounds produced by animals and plants. By recording and analyzing these sounds, scientists can better understand the health of the ecosystem and identify areas that need conservation. Erb's team is using this approach to understand how the construction of Nusantara is affecting the biodiversity of the region.
Bigger Picture
The construction of Nusantara is part of a broader pattern of urban growth and development in tropical regions. As cities grow and expand, natural habitats are destroyed, and species are threatened. The loss of biodiversity can have significant consequences for human health and the environment.
Indonesia is a country with high biodiversity, with many endemic species found nowhere else in the world. The construction of Nusantara can have a significant impact on the biodiversity of the region, and it is essential that conservation efforts are made to protect species and natural habitats.
What Happens Next
Erb's team will continue to record and analyze the sounds of the forest as the construction of Nusantara proceeds. The collected data can be used to identify areas that need conservation and to develop strategies to protect the biodiversity of the region.
Additionally, it is crucial that governments and international organizations work together to protect biodiversity and natural habitats in tropical regions. This can include creating protected areas, implementing sustainable conservation practices, and educating local communities about the importance of biodiversity.
Source / Reference
This article was originally published on Mongabay.