He sold his goats to buy tree seedlings and transformed barren hills into a forest: Meet Mbah Sadiman

For years, villagers in a drought-prone region of Central Java believed Mbah Sadiman was wasting his life. While the hills around Wonogiri remained dry and damaged by deforestation, the elderly farmer quietly spent decades planting banyan trees across barren slopes. To continue buying seedlings, he even sold his goats and used much of his own savings, despite being mocked by neighbours who considered the effort pointless. Some villagers also associated banyan trees with mystical beliefs and questioned why he planted them so obsessively. Decades later, those same hills have reportedly turned green again, helping revive natural springs and improve water access for nearby communities, transforming Mbah Sadiman into one of Indonesia’s most admired grassroots environmental figures.Mbah Sadiman is a farmer and environmental activist from Geneng village in Wonogiri Regency, located in Indonesia’s Central Java province.The Wonogiri region has long struggled with dry conditions and seasonal water shortages. Years of logging, land clearing and repeated fires had severely reduced forest cover across many hillsides, leaving the soil dry and vulnerable to erosion.Local communities often faced major difficulties accessing water during prolonged dry seasons.Mbah Sadiman reportedly became convinced that deforestation was one of the main reasons the region’s springs were disappearing. He believed restoring tree cover could slowly help the land retain rainwater again and eventually revive underground water sources.Beginning in the 1990s, he started planting thousands of banyan and fig trees across the barren hills near Mount Gendol and surrounding areas.The work was physically demanding and stretched across many years. Reports suggest he often climbed the hills daily to plant and monitor seedlings, largely without financial support or public recognition.At first, many people reportedly doubted the idea would work.The hills appeared too dry and damaged to recover easily, and banyan trees grow slowly compared with other species. Some residents also viewed banyan trees through traditional spiritual beliefs, associating them with supernatural or haunted places.Because of this, villagers allegedly mocked Mbah Sadiman and called him eccentric for spending decades planting trees with no visible short-term results.To continue funding the work, he reportedly sold goats and used his own limited income to purchase additional seedlings.Over time, the environmental effects reportedly became visible.As the trees matured, the hills gradually began retaining more moisture. Soil erosion decreased, vegetation returned and groundwater conditions improved. Eventually, several natural springs reportedly reappeared in the area.According to Indonesian media reports, water from these springs now supports farming and provides cleaner water access for nearby villages, especially during dry seasons when shortages once became severe.The once-barren slopes eventually transformed into dense green forest landscapes visible across the region.Banyan and fig trees are known for their massive root systems, which help stabilise soil and store groundwater. Environmental scientists often describe them as highly important species for watershed restoration in tropical ecosystems.Large fig trees also support biodiversity by providing food and shelter for birds, bats and other wildlife throughout the year.Mbah Sadiman reportedly chose these trees specifically because he believed they could help restore underground water systems over the long term.As his story spread through Indonesian newspapers, television and social media, Mbah Sadiman gradually became recognised nationally for his environmental work.Many Indonesians now see him as a symbol of:Mbah Sadiman’s journey resonates with people because it reflects a simple but powerful pattern: someone continues working toward a goal for years despite criticism, only for the results to become visible much later.The story has gained even more attention as countries worldwide face growing concerns over drought, climate stress, deforestation and water scarcity.Today, Mbah Sadiman reportedly continues visiting the hills to monitor the trees he planted over decades. In interviews, he has said that his greatest reward is not money or fame, but seeing villagers no longer struggle for clean water during the dry season.