Former Official Fights to Save Indonesia’s Sacred Lake Toba

High in the mountains of Sumatra, retired district leader Wilmar Eliaser Simandjorang stands overlooking Lake Toba—a massive volcanic crater lake that holds deep spiritual significance for the Batak people. What he sees below breaks his heart: once-pristine waters now clouded by pollution, surrounded by disappearing forests that once protected this natural wonder.

Lake Toba was once so pure that travelers would carry flasks of its crystal-clear water home as gifts. Today, the water smells unpleasant even when used for cooking rice. Decades of unchecked logging, plantation expansion, and pollution have transformed Indonesia’s largest lake into an environmental warning sign. Recent research confirmed nitrogen levels exceeding national safety standards, threatening both fish populations and water quality. Since 2002, the region has lost nearly a quarter of its old-growth forest, with rainwater now carrying ash, trash, and pesticides directly into the lake.

Rather than despair, Wilmar has dedicated his retirement to rewilding the landscape through grassroots restoration. He plants native trees, encourages local families to cultivate mixed forest and fruit crops instead of monocultures, and teaches children to view the natural world as family. His philosophy is simple but powerful: “I believe forests will be sustainable if people feel they are part of their lives.”

Though his efforts may seem modest against such massive environmental challenges, Wilmar’s work represents hope for Lake Toba’s future. His mission reminds us that individual action, combined with community education and traditional ecological wisdom, can help heal even severely damaged ecosystems—if we act before they become mere memories.