How Rain Tree Fights Pollution and Restores Water Resources in Bojonegoro

Pollution has been a major issue that Indonesian people are very concerned about. Big cities like Jakarta and Surabaya have become everybody’s concern since we breathe urban air every single day. While the use of electric vehicles is highly recommended, most people would disagree with various reasons. 

Whatever the debate revolves around, the main issue remains. Pollution is inevitable and this young man from Sumberagung, Dander District, Bojonegoro Regency, was encouraged to take real action to restore the deteriorating quality of oxygen in Bojonegoro using the rain tree. The tree is also of great use in bringing back water resources that were diminished due to mining activities. 

Rain tree is proven to be able to restore oxygen quality and water resources.  

Instead of complaining and launching an aggressive protest, Samsul Arifin Wijoyosukmo initiated GSN which stands for Green Star Nusantara. Founded in 2010, GSN aims to encourage people to care for the environment since our lives cannot be away from nature. The massive oil and gas mining activities in Bojonegoro since the 2000s have resulted in dwindling water resources and terrible air pollution that endanger people living in the vicinity. 

Rooted in local wisdom 

Samsul didn’t want everyone to experience what Sarim had gone through. In 2020 the 49-year-old man had to rush out of the house carrying a number of jerry cans. Due to the paucity of clean water, he had to ignore the cold air at dawn. He would stop at nothing to get his urgent needs fulfilled. Sarim who is a resident at Nglampin, Ngambon District, Bojonegoro Regency, had no choice but to endure a cold night to avoid long queues to get clean water.

Villagers had been swarming a padas well since early morning with buckets and jerry cans, which soon formed a long queue. Padas is not actually a well. Instead, it is a natural depression on a rock by the edge of a river. This is the main source of water for the residents of Nglampin when clean water is scarce during the dry season. To meet their daily needs, standing in line is imperative.

Barren rice fields due to water scarcity cause crop failure. (Personal document)

The heartbreaking incident made me remember what the residents of Walang Kopo had suffered. A hamlet in Lamongan, Walang Kopo was stricken by a severe drought back in 2018 when water was scarce leading to crop failure. Along with a local community, I had the privilege to distribute dozens of clean water tanks to five sub-districts including the hamlet located in Sarirejo District.

In response to that drought and water paucity, Samsul decided to look up the local treasures that would help them fight the issue, including the declining oxygen quality. With Green Star Nusantara (GSN), he discovered that many springs have dried up over time due to the dwindling number of supporting trees in the area. These trees originally played a major role in storing clean water supplies that could be used when needed. Samsul put it:

There are supporting trees that are already old, rotten, so many have fallen. Some are cut down by people.

Unluckily, no immediate efforts were made to restore or replant trees which would have a vital function in an attempt to revive those dead springs. He was well aware that large-scale oil and gas exploitation has had a direct impact on the severity of global warming and greenhouse gases, so collaborative work is essential.

Through GSN, he made every endeavor to investigate the local treasures in search of a solution to water and air problems in the village where he lives. If the problem is left untreated, the heat will become increasingly rampant, leading to the stunted growth of various plants that we rely on as food.

Rain tree (Samanea saman), effective for oxygen improvement and water containment (Personal doc)

One of the best plants that improves oxygen by absorbing the CO2 while maintaining water resources is rain tree.

He further argued that change will never take place if we just sit idly without taking action. In an interview with the Satu Indonesia Awards team, Samsul put it seriously, "Ibu Bumi wes maringi, aja dilarani!" The Javanese sentence literally says "Mother Earth has given a lot, so don't hurt her." This is what underlies every act of GSN in programs that involve local potentials as a solution as well as inspiration. 

As far as I’m concerned, rain trees are known for its wood used for making household furniture in villages all over Java. It is common that cupboards, chairs and tables alike are made of rain tree logs. In many cases, the trees are also reserved as shelter from heat or rain.

Emulating the independence of the Samin Tribe

Learning the huge benefits, GSN made its way to grow rain trees in as many places as needed. The problem in the initial program was the seeds. Since it was not widely available, Samsul had to purchase the seed online from West Java. Due to the high price, up to IDR 200 thousands per kilogram including the shipping cost, Samsul decided to make their own nursery. 

Having rain tree seedlings is more productive. (Credit: Satu Indonesia Awards)  

Having their own seedling really saves costs and turns out to be productive. Once the seeds are ready, planting is then carried out in locations deemed necessary. Alternatively, seeds are also offered free of charge to those in need, i.e. non-profit communities or villages that need them.

In order to acquire the rain tree seeds, one is not required to submit a formal letter or some kind of formal procedure. GSN only demands a mutual commitment to preserve the environment through a collaborative effort of growing rain trees in many possible places in the green spirit.

Samsul insists that GSN is not just a community, but a system to re-green the world from the threat of global warming, with the hope of being able to restore oxygen quality and especially restore sources of clean water reserves which are increasingly scarce. 

If the rain tree seeds are given away for free, how does GSN finance its programs? Funding does not rely on any party other than collecting voluntary contributions from members. In addition, GSN collects money from the sales of powdered herbal medicine made from various rhizomes of their own production. Samsul Arifin made it clear that independence is a highly shared value in GSN community.

Samsul Arifin Wijoyosukmo leads GSN optimistically. (Credit: Satu Indonesia Awards) 

The spirit that we use to grow this institution is the spirit of the Samin tribe.

The Samin tribe lives in Bojonegoro and the hinterland of Blora. They are known as an indigenous people who hold their traditions firmly. They resemble the Kanekes people or what is known as the Baduy tribe in Banten Province. In utilizing nature, they only take what is necessary without the tendency to manipulate or even exploit. The Samin tribe is also known for being honest with no arrogance. 

What's more primarily striking is that they are socially and economically independent. It is with this spirit that Samsul runs GSN in conjunction with other communities that share similar interests in environmental care. It doesn't mean that he needs no assistance but demonstrates self-sufficiency when necessary. 

Samsul Arifin with a prestigious award from PT Astra Internationa, Tbk (Doc. Samsul)

In honor of his brilliant idea and the spirit of independence in restoring clean water reserves and improving the oxygen quality due to oil and gas mining as well as global warming, Samsul Arifin Wijoyosukmo was rewarded with the prestigious Satu Indonesia Awards in 2021. Along with GSN, Samsul has prompted us to be aware that a seemingly trivial contribution can actually have a significant impact on the environment.

What we need today is an act of immediate kindness in place of hurried comments with retention to show dignified. With this in mind, we should be confident about looking out to the future for the city we live in and Indonesia that we dearly love.