Man Spends 30 Years Turning Degraded Land into Massive Forest – Fools & Dreamers (Full Documentary)

We've just released one of the full-length interviews we did with Hugh Wilson on our Patreon page! Check it out at www.patreon.com/posts/exciting-change-89890553 🙂

Im a single mom from Philippines, working as a Domestic Helper in the Middle East, i bought 16 has abandoned farm in my place, the reason is to protect my village from flashfloods and to prevent gold mining.. 5 years ago i planted 2000 hills of trees, and 10 months ago i planted 500 hills of fruit trees and 1000 hills coffee, ficus and endemic trees.. At the moment im propagating bamboo and nursing pine trees as well as native trees and will be soon to be planted for my next vacation.

This man is like Santa, but instead of handling gifts to kids, he gave the world one giant present.

I'm definitely inspired. In a very small way, I accomplished something like this, completely by accident. As a child, saving my allowance, I came up with $8. Not much, even in the 60s. But, when I explained my plan to buy "Duck Food" seeds from the back of a Sportsman's magazine, my father matched my funds and I sent the check off... and got my seeds in a few weeks. I took the seeds to a property that my father owned. "Useless" swamp land that was just mud and weeds in most years + $16 worth of seeds, which isn't that much.., but I planted what I could reach... Not much without a boat. Life happened and I grew up, joined the military and completely forgot about the swamp. I happened to return a few decades later and was amazed. Somehow the vegetation spread all over the 10 or so acres, stopped the drainage and evaporation, and the swamp became a lake. 3 to 4 feet deeper. The amount of wildlife had exploded. Someone planted fish, or they came in as eggs stuck to the feet of waterfowl (as some people claim) There were 4 pairs of swans living there. Wood ducks, a rarity in the area. Things I had never seen in my youth. The opposite side of the former swamp was owned by a local radio station. Seeing what I had done, they designated several hundred acres as a private sanctuary. The half dozen homeowners on "my side" shut down any hunting that used to be unrestricted. Soooo.., I know the satisfaction you feel. Just a few tiny steps by an ignorant kid that wanted to photograph ducks... and nature took over. I consider it one of the great things I've done in this life. It is definitely the same as one's love of our mothers.

when this guy said we don’t expect to change the world, just do the right thing in this small corner of the world. We really need more people like this guy!

The planet does not need more successful people. The planet desperately needs more peacemakers, healers, restorers, storytellers and lovers of all kinds. -Dalai Lama

About 30 years ago I replaced the grass lawn around my house with trees and shrubs. The neighborhood began as a forest and the contractors who built the subdivision removed most of the forestation and replace it with grass lawns. The few trees that remained in the neighborhood were removed by neighbors who cleared their lots with chainsaws and planted grass lawns. Now my property is surrounded with a tree canopy that does not need to be mowed, watered or fertilized. My house is cool and comfortable on all but three or four days out of a year when the outside temperature is over 95 degrees F. Those are the only days that require my central air conditioner to run. Most of the neighbors who clear cut their lots have to run their air conditioners 24 hours a day for, at least 6 months a year. My electric bill is about 1/4 th of the amount the neighbors pay. Once the forestation is started it completely takes care of itself and requires virtually no maintenance or intervention. The other lots in the neighborhood over the last 30 years have turned into patches of brown dead grass and patches of dirt that can no longer support plant growth. Without human intervention of watering, mowing, reseeding, applying weed control chemicals, insect control chemicals that kill grubworms, and fertilizers, grass lawns do not survive in our area. Deep root shrubs and trees are able to withstand periods of drought and remain green with almost no human intervention. david

New Zealand shares a similar forest history with Ireland. Ireland was once 80% forest, eventually human activities brought that down to 1.4%. It's inspiring to watch this wonderful dreamer help nature to heal. I understand this man deeply, I've dreamt everyday of doing the same here, all I need is for the space to open up for me & I too will silently dedicate my entire life to mother nature.

"Do your best ..... you can do it at any scale you want." Yes! Plants on a balcony, in a window, a yard, a median. Amazing human being. Thank You!

I visited Hinewai as a botany student in 97 or 98. Amazing to see how far it has come and that Hugh is still there with the same passion for the project. He is a true hero for living to his principles and teaching so many what is possible.

I inherited a few hectares of forest from my past father. Nothing much but I decided to preserve that land and forest instead of cutting the trees for money. This video inspired me.

When you love what you do everyday it's not called work, it's called living. Hugh has the energy of a teenager and absolutely loves his life and reservation. I love this man and cannot wait to visit

I would love to do this, I am only 23 but it’s one of my dreams to buy a small plot of land and replant forest, when he said at the end you can only do your little corner really touched me and made me cry, what an inspiration

Genius is often attributed to mathematicians and physicists. This gentleman is a genius in the field of conservation science. What an incredible achievement!

"We need a more fools and dreamers in the world, I think" I think too.

I just did a bit a small part of this magical forrest walk today. Its truely unbelievable what he did but its there! You can drink water from the waterfalls where most of our NZ streams and rivers have been ruined by farming. Thank you Hugh! You are a environmentalist amongst many who are just talk.

I was inspired by him and other permaculture dreamers to leave my Tech job and go back to the land. I am leaving my job in a few months in Miami to go back to my home country Colombia to start a project like this.

Last year,I went down South to meet this amazing gentleman.I have read all his amazing botany books and when I met him,it felt so unreal.He was a living Lorax,and better. He made me crawl,climb,and hike,to show me every beautiful plants in this forest.Hugh,you are an inspiration.May I and more people can walk on your path and grow more prosper and sustainable nature

That man has kind eyes, a gorgeous laugh, a good heart in his chest, and a clever head on his shoulders. A true inspiration.

He looks so incredibly healthy for someone his age, really shows what being active your whole life can do