Nestled in the foothills of the Meratus Mountains of South Kalimantan, Arboretum Ambutun is a living conservation landscape dedicated to safeguarding the rich botanical heritage of Borneo. Situated along a wildlife movement corridor and adjacent to areas affected by mining activities, the arboretum plays an increasingly important role in biodiversity conservation, ecological restoration, environmental education, and the preservation of plant genetic resources.

 Established in May 2020, Arboretum Ambutun was founded through the initiative of local conservationist Hanif Wicaksono, whose lifelong passion for Kalimantan’s native fruit diversity inspired the creation of this unique ex-situ conservation area. Concerned by the rapid loss of forests due to coal mining, agricultural expansion, and oil palm development, he began collecting and cultivating native fruit species more than two decades ago. What started as a personal collection in his home garden eventually evolved into a dedicated 2.6-hectare arboretum in his hometown.

Today, the arboretum serves as a refuge for many native and threatened plant species while preserving traditional ecological knowledge associated with local fruits that are increasingly disappearing from community memory. Its development has been supported by numerous Indonesian botanists, taxonomists, conservationists, and plant enthusiasts who have contributed expertise, plant material, and guidance in collection management.