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Environment Director of the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) Medrilzam during a discussion held in South Jakarta on Tuesday (ANTARA)

The development of the new capital city in East Kalimantan will encourage environmental conservation in the province, the Environment Director of the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas), Medrilzam said. "We have the spirit to improve the ecosystem there. This is great momentum. Moreover, President Joko Widodo has committed himself to turn it into a forest city, and a sustainable and green city. This is a great chance to green the region again," she said at a discussion held in South Jakarta on Tuesday.

The government has decided to remove the seat of government from Jakarta to East Kalimantan. The new capital city will be built on 180 thousand hectares of land in Sepaku, North Penajam Paser District and Samboja, Kutai Kartanegara District, East Kalimantan.

The government plans to move the capital city to East Kalimantan in 2024.

The preparatory stage of the development of the new capital city has been started this year, including a master plan.

The development of the new capital city will offer a good chance to develop a wide range of natural vegetation as well as to re-green the location of the new capital city, she said.

If everything goes as planned, the environment in the new capital city will no longer be a problem since environmental conservation tops the list of the government's priorities in the city’s planned development, she said.

"There should no longer be a question about the environment of the new capital city since it is the first thing we will conserve. We all, not only the President but other parties as well, are committed to developing the new capital city into a livable city, she said.