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eligious leaders, be they Muslim clerics, priests, monks and others from various faiths and religions in Yogyakarta, together joined in a drive recently to reforest Mount Merapi’s slopes, which were devastated by hot pyroclastic flows when it erupted last year.

“We expect that the seeds of love that we sow create peacefulness in religions and ethnic groups so that they respect differences,” said Semarang Archbishop Mgr. YM Pujosumarto Pr.

The reforestation campaign includes planting 112,500 tree seedlings in three villages leveled by the eruption — Kepuharjo, Glagaharjo and Umbulharjo villages — located in Cangkringan district, Sleman regency. The drive is scheduled for completion by the month’s end.

“The Rp 372 million [US$42,036] in reforestation funds is being raised voluntarily by religious communities in Yogyakarta,” said campaign coordinator Kyai Haji Abdul Muhaimin.

Muhaimin emphasized that the drive was not just a form of reforestation, but a symbol of religious tolerance in Indonesia.

“The campaign involves 47 societal elements from various religions, ethnic communities and groups,” said Muhaimin, who is also caretaker of the Nurul Ummahat Islamic boarding school in Kotagede, Yogyakarta. He added that Bhinneka Tunggal Ika (Unity in Diversity) had been reduced to a slogan as Indonesia was facing a national identity crisis, impacts of which had caused hostilities among religious communities and hatred among ethnic groups.

“This initiative is points to the beauty of Bhinneka Tunggal Ika, of our future goals to create an Indonesia that is different, but that fosters mutual respect and enables people to live peacefully side by side,” said Muhaimin.

Religious figures in Yogyakarta, according to Muhaimin, were not only holding dialogs in seminars, but had gone through long processes to bring about peace and harmony in practicing the religious services of the respective worshipers. “Don’t just interpret the tree-planting campaign technically, it must be elucidated by sowing the seeds of brotherhood,” emphasized Muhaimin.

Archbishop Pujosumarto said the tree planting campaign also meant that people must protect the earth. “We sow the seeds of love, so we can watch the trees of harmony,” said Pujosumarto on the sidelines of the campaign in Pangukrejo village.

The tree seedlings consisted of 19 tree varieties, such as teak, mahogany and pine trees. Beside restoring the damaged areas, the campaign was also aimed at providing economic benefit for eruption victims.

The Merapi eruptions that took place on Sept. 26 and Nov. 5, 2010, killed 198 people, devastated 23 villages and engulfed almost 4,000 hectares of forested areas by the hot pyroclastic clouds that reached a temperature of 600 degrees Celsius.

Residents have continued to carry out restoration efforts independently by planting various trees in the affected areas. Those who are afraid of returning to their villages have also planted trees in their yards. Around 2,500 families displaced by the eruption are currently staying in emergency shelters and waiting for the completion of permanent shelters.

The Mount Merapi eruptions have caused Rp 7.3 trillion (about US$825 million) in damage, excluding secondary disasters, such as cold lava floods, which are still occurring now.