While crossing the hills of Wonogiri in Central Java, today’s tourists can enjoy dense areas of greenery. Waterfalls nourish nearby villages, fields contain enough water for several crops, and tree-covered slopes hide what used to be bare ground. However, very few people would think about the fact that many of the changes happened because of the commitment of one person who dedicated efforts to tree planting for many years despite the lack of encouragement from people around him.Now known as an environmentally conscious individual, Sadiman began his mission with a simple realization. As a man who witnessed the depletion of local forests due to unsustainable farming and the disappearance of streams that provided water to many villages, he came up with his own way to fight that trend. Their solution was not a government initiative or any kind of large-scale project; Planting one tree after another for decades and being made fun of by my neighbors who did not understand the meaning of growing useless plants.
How deforestation led to Wonogiri’s drought and water crisis
The Wonogiri region is known to be dry for many years. Rainfall is seasonal in nature, and the mountainous nature of the region means that in such areas not much moisture is retained after vegetation is destroyed. Destruction, cultivation and burning of forests became common practice, depleting the delicate balance that maintained the region’s water supply.People realized the negative effects it caused. Rivers dried up, water sources became inconsistent and it became more difficult for people to carry out agricultural activities. In some cases, people were able to farm only during one crop period due to lack of water.
How to plant 11,000 saplings banyan and ficus trees changed the hills of Wonogiri
His attention was drawn to the banyan and ficus trees, which are known for their extensive root systems. Instead of growing only in villages or near roads, they focused on higher ground where restoring vegetation could have a cascading effect in surrounding watersheds.As reported by Reuters in 2021, over more than two decades, he planted at least 11,000 trees on about 250 hectares (617 acres). Gradually the work progressed. There were no sudden changes to the landscape, only years of repeated planting and waiting for the young trees to establish themselves.As the roots spread into the soil, they helped improve the ground’s ability to absorb and retain rainfall. Dense vegetation also reduced erosion on exposed slopes, allowing water to filter underground rather than flowing rapidly downstream after a storm.
Why did many villagers oppose Sadiman’s plantation mission?
Many local residents questioned why someone would put so much effort into planting banyan trees. Traditional beliefs about the species mean that some villagers associate them with spirits and avoid them altogether. Others saw no reason to exchange productive agricultural land or livestock for slow-growing trees whose benefits were not immediate.Sadiman financed most of his works himself. Plants became part of an unusual economy in which they traded or sold plants, including cloves and jackfruit, to support the continued expansion of their nurseries. Sometimes they even exchanged livestock to obtain more young trees for planting.Some neighbors considered these decisions proof that he had lost his judgment. Criticism continued for years, even as more hills gradually turned green.
How thousands of trees helped revive Wonogiri’s water supply
New springs were created in areas where there was no water source previously, thus ensuring a water source for the nearby community. Villages used pipes to deliver water directly to homes, while farmers found a more reliable water source for their agricultural purposes.The families who were facing problems due to lack of water, now got water in a more convenient form. Additionally, as water sources became more reliable, farming began to be done two or three times a year.The trees continued to grow, thus continuing the process as they helped conserve soil moisture.
Why villagers now celebrate the man they once called a madman
Public opinion changed only when the visible consequences became impossible to ignore. Those who had once questioned Saadiman’s choices began to point to the healthy hills and restored water sources as proof of what could be achieved with continued reforestation. Local residents who remembered the criticism now acknowledge that the project has benefited many villages by supporting a reliable supply of clean water.Change did not happen through rapid engineering or large financial investments. It emerged through patient ecological recovery, with each planting season adding another layer to a landscape that had been deteriorating for years.