08/11/2021
Affectionately addressed as ‘mbah’ or ‘grandpa’, this 69-year-old Indonesian man has worked relentlessly to plant trees in the hills of central Java after fires to clear the land for cultivation nearly dried up its rivers and lakes. The long and wide-spreading roots of at least 11,000 banyans and ficus trees Sadiman has planted over 250 hectares (617 acres) help to retain groundwater and prevent land erosion. Thanks to his effort, springs have formed where once there was barren and arid land, their water piped to homes and used to irrigate farms. Lack of rain in the area where he planted trees had once limited farmers to a single harvest a year, but now, the abundant water sources ensure two or three, he said.
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