At UIN Sunan Kalijaga, Syawalan is never just a celebration. This year, on April 8, 2025, the post-Idul Fitri gathering carried a message deeper than rituals—one rooted in ecological consciousness and spiritual reflection. In the courtyard of the Prof. KH. Saifuddin Zuhri Building (PAU), the planting of a single matoa tree marked the university’s ever-growing commitment to environmental stewardship.

For UIN Sunan Kalijaga, this wasn’t a mere symbolic gesture. It was a declaration—a reminder that the university sees environmental care not as an add-on, but as a moral responsibility embedded in its values, its faith, and its vision of the future.

“When the trees we know today have fulfilled their time, others will be here to take their place. That’s our responsibility today,” said Rector Prof. Noorhaidi Hasan after planting the matoa seedling alongside top university leaders. The act, though simple, echoed a powerful belief: sustainability begins with conscious steps—rooted in now, aimed at tomorrow.

The event aligns with the national movement initiated by the Ministry of Religious Affairs, under the Circular Letter No. 182/2025, calling for the planting of one million matoa trees. This is part of the Ekotheology program—one of the eight priority areas in the “Kemenag Berdampak” roadmap—inviting institutions of faith to take a leading role in environmental protection.

UIN Sunan Kalijaga is among the frontrunners answering that call. Its ecological mission extends well beyond campus walls. Thousands of matoa trees will be planted across the main campus, the lush valleys, and the emerging Campus II in Pajangan, Bantul. This initiative is not just about greening the space—it’s about cultivating a way of thinking, living, and leading by example.

In embedding sustainability into its Syawalan celebration, the university sends a clear message: ecological preservation is not separate from spiritual growth. It is an act of worship. It is a return to fitrah—not only in soul, but in how we live on this Earth.

Syawalan, traditionally a time for healing and reconnection, now becomes a platform for environmental reflection. It invites the academic community to see trees not just as part of the landscape, but as a living testament to our choices.

From one matoa tree, a vision grows—of campuses that breathe, communities that care, and futures that flourish.