Rooted in faith: Islam’s role in Indonesia’s environmental fight
- Awareness of issues such as plastic pollution and sustainability has grown in Indonesia, thanks to local initiatives and Muslim clerics
- The concept of people as khalifah, or caretakers, of the earth has helped spread the message about protecting the environment
In the green hills that surround the city, he founded Bumi Langit, a socio-ecological project that combines the principles of Islam with the activities of a sustainable commune, which vary from farming and food production to education through courses open to the public.
Waworuntu’s journey began in 2000, when he embraced Islam and relocated from Bali to Java to explore its teachings. “I married a Muslim and converted,” he says. “The very attractive part of Islam, for me, is Sufism, a dimension of love and beauty within the religion.”
The position of humans in relation to the environment is at the base of Bumi Langit, which started as a permaculture farm in 2006 but evolved into a foundation that integrates local villagers and provides jobs and practical teachings to implement sustainable agriculture.
The project, still a unique concept in Indonesia, is emblematic of a wider scholarly engagement and revival in the practice of environmental action as an integral part of Islam.
