Indonesian eco-warrior turns arid hills green

(SOUNDBITE) (Bahasa Indonesia) 69-YEAR-OLD'S ECO WARRIOR AND FARMER, SADIMAN SAYING:"I am Sadiman. I am 69 years old. I work on building forest land. I want to make the green forest denser by planting banyan trees and ficus trees which are beneficial for the people here."

Location: Wonogiri, Indonesia

Sadiman has turned barren hills green

He has planted over 250 hectares of trees over the last 24 years

The long and wide-spreading roots

help to retain groundwater and prevent land erosion

meaning that farmers in the area can now harvest crops

two to three times a year instead of just once

(SOUNDBITE) (Bahasa Indonesia) GENDOL HILL RESIDENT, WARTO SAYING:"In the past people thought he was crazy, trading his goats for banyan seeds, and he was seen as a 'madman' by the local community. But, look at the result now, he is able to provide clean water to meet the needs of the people living in several villages."