Faithfully Guarding Nature on Haruku Island

KOMPAS/BAHANA PATRIA GUPTA

Eliza Kissya

Many environmental saviors have fallen to earthly temptations. Eliza Kissya is one of the rare caretakers of the environment who has survived. At the age of 70, he remains committed to protecting nature on Haruku Island, Central Maluku regency, Maluku.

From his yard in Haruku village on Haruku Island on Friday, Feb. 1, Eliza chanted some rhymes accompanied by ukulele. The poem he had written was mostly about nature and his own life as a guardian of nature, called kewang in the local language.