On the island of Lombok, where the majestic Mount Rinjani towers above forests, villages, and seas, a quiet but determined transformation is underway. At the center of it is Qwadru Wicaksono, the General Manager of the Rinjani–Lombok UNESCO Global Geopark and Biosphere Reserve, and the founder of Saska Coffee. His vision is ambitious: to unlock the potential of local communities by showing them that their land, culture, and traditions are not just sources of pride but also engines of economic growth.

From Volcano to Value

For decades, Lombok has been known as Bali’s quieter neighbor, a place of pristine beaches, vibrant Sasak culture, and the iconic volcanic landscape of Mount Rinjani. Yet, the economic opportunities for many of its communities have remained limited, with challenges in job creation, income equality, and sustainable entrepreneurship.

Qwadru believes that the key to changing this lies in seeing the island not just as a tourist destination but as a living laboratory of opportunity. “The Geopark is not just about protecting geology or nature—it’s about people. It’s about creating livelihoods that are rooted in heritage but open to innovation,” he explains.

Brewing Change with Coffee

That philosophy first took shape through his coffee brand Wang-Wangi which has since transformed into the Saska Coffee Company, the brand Qwadru founded since his first introduction to coffee on the island in 2016 to spotlight Lombok’s unique coffee-growing traditions. By working directly with local farmers, Saska Coffee has been able to raise quality, improve access to markets, and create value-added products that tell the story of the land and the people who cultivate it.

Coffee became more than just a drink—it became a bridge between local communities and the global market. It also became a model of how local potential, when refined and branded, can generate income streams that stay within the community.

Beyond Coffee: F&B, Tourism, and Consumer Goods

Qwadru’s work at the helm of the Rinjani–Lombok Geopark has expanded that mission far beyond coffee. His focus is on nurturing entrepreneurship across industries: food and beverage, tourism, cultural products, and even everyday consumer goods. By helping local communities develop businesses and products that are competitive, sustainable, and culturally distinctive, he aims to diversify Lombok’s economy.

One key strategy is identifying “hidden potential” within villages—whether that is a culinary tradition that can be elevated into a marketable product, a craft that can reach international consumers, or a natural site that can be responsibly developed for tourism. “We want to create entrepreneurs, not just workers,” Qwadru emphasizes.

A Geopark as a Platform for Development

The UNESCO designation of Rinjani–Lombok as both a Global Geopark and a Biosphere Reserve provides a powerful platform for this vision. These international frameworks emphasize the link between conservation and sustainable development. For Qwadru, this is the perfect foundation to design initiatives that blend ecological stewardship with economic growth.

By aligning with UNESCO’s mission, the Geopark becomes more than a conservation zone—it becomes an incubator for new businesses, a stage for cultural pride, and a catalyst for socio-economic equality.

A Mission for the Future

Qwadru’s approach is rooted in long-term thinking. By cultivating new entrepreneurs, he hopes to create ripple effects: more jobs, fairer income distribution, and stronger resilience for communities facing global challenges such as climate change and shifting tourism dynamics.

The transformation of Lombok will not happen overnight. But through coffee, F&B, tourism, and consumer innovation, Qwadru Wicaksono is steadily building the framework for a new kind of island economy—one where local communities lead the way in shaping their own futures.

“Lombok has everything it needs,” he says. “Heritage, resources, creativity. My mission is simply to help people see it, believe in it, and build from it.”