Bigjhon, Conservation Hero: Al Zaytun’s Real Action Amidst Indonesia’s Ecological Disaster Emergency
By Dr. Ali Aminulloh, M.Pd.I., ME (Lecturer at IAI Al-Azis)
The Cry of the Forest and the Irony of Our Development
Indonesia, a country renowned for its rich forests, is now facing a harsh reality: an ecological disaster emergency. Every day, we are bombarded with news of flash floods, landslides, and droughts that claim lives and ravage the economy. The root of the problem is often a single one: illegal logging and deforestation, which disrupt the natural balance that has been maintained for thousands of years.
Out there, development is often equated with sacrifice—the sacrifice of green spaces, the sacrifice of ancient trees, even the sacrifice of topsoil that has formed over decades. Ironically, the more we develop, the more vulnerable we become to nature’s wrath.
However, amidst this crisis, a different narrative has emerged from the Al Zaytun Islamic Boarding School: a story of how grandiose development can coexist with a deep commitment to conservation, even involving a giant, steel-wheeled machine nicknamed “Bigjhon.”
Bigjhon: When Technology Meets Environmental Ethics
Bigjhon is more than just an excavator. It is a tree-moving machine that has been elevated to the symbol of “Environmental Hero” in the development project of the Indonesian Polytechnic Campus (Al Zaytun Indonesia Raya). Its presence demonstrates a progressive leadership philosophy: development must be inclusive—not only for humans, but also for nature.
Bigjhon’s job is to ensure that trees in development areas do not die in vain. In many locations, trees with a diameter of 15-20 cm are cut down, their roots left to rot, and their wood may end up as waste material with no ecological significance. However, at Al Zaytun, these trees have a more noble destiny: to be relocated to continue growing and providing life.
The process carried out by Bigjhon and his team is a rescue operation that demands a high level of precision:
1. Create a New Home: Bigjhon digs a hole for the tree to be relocated.
2. Precision Root Digging: Bigjhon carefully digs and lifts the tree along with the clod of soil surrounding its roots. This minimizes trauma to the tree, allowing the vital roots to remain intact.
3. Journey to a New Home: The lifted tree, now like a transplanted baby, is transported to its new location, where a planting hole has been prepared.
4. New Life: The trees are then replanted.
Thanks to this precision, the relocated tree thrives and adapts immediately. To date, hundreds of teak trees have been successfully rescued and replanted.
This is a clear demonstration that technology, when driven by environmental ethics, can be a solution, not a source of problems.
Top Soil: Priceless Treasures Revealed
Al Zaytun’s commitment to nature doesn’t stop with the tree. They also focus on what lies beneath: the topsoil.
Sheikh Al Zaytun, with his far-sighted vision, stated, “Topsoil is a precious commodity; it takes decades to form.” This 0.5-meter-deep layer of fertile soil is the core of land fertility, where all nutrients and microorganisms thrive.
During the Al Zaytun Polytechnic construction project, topsoil was not left to pile up or wash away. The supervisory team ensured that this layer was excavated separately. Thousands of cubic meters (M3) of rescued topsoil were then transferred to Al Zaytun’s agricultural and plantation areas. This action is a valuable lesson in respecting the land, ensuring its biological richness is maintained and utilized for the sustainability of life.
Nahniyah Philosophy and Ecological Vision
All of these conservation actions, from participatory oversight by the construction supervisory team to the vital role of Bigjhon, are based on a fundamental concept at Al Zaytun: the Concept of Unity, or Nahniyah.
Nahniyah teaches that this development belongs to us all, and the responsibility to protect it, including the environment, also belongs to us all. This is an inclusive development initiative that involves the Al Zaytun community, from preschools and elementary and middle school students at IAI (Islamic Institute of Indonesia), to alumni, ensuring that every excavation, every tree transplant, and every saved topsoil reflects a collective commitment.
Deep Reflection: Building with Heart, Caring with Action
The story of Bigjhon and conservation at Al Zaytun is an inspiring antithesis. While the outside world often assumes that development can only be achieved through brutal sacrifices to nature, Al Zaytun demonstrates a third path: wise, ethical, and sustainable development.
This is a call to action for all of us. This noble vision of loving the environment must be translated into concrete action. It teaches us that respecting trees and plants as divine creations, integral to human life, is the foundation of a lasting civilization.
Bigjhon may be just a machine, but he is a powerful reminder: technology and progress should be used to serve life, not destroy it. All of us, in whatever role we play, have a responsibility to be “Bigjhon” in our community, to be heroes who not only build the future of humanity but also ensure the sustainability of the universe. This is the most valuable legacy of the Polytechnic of the Homeland.**
Indonesia, December 2, 2025
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