TIMES RIAU, MALANG – The Umbul Gemulo natural spring in Tulungrejo Village, Bumiaji District, has remained preserved amidst the rapid tourism development in Batu City, thanks to the dedicated efforts of local residents.

With a water discharge of liters per second, the spring supports the lives of thousands of people in Batu and Malang and is currently managed through a communal, self-help system called swadaya.

Located only 50 meters from the Purnama Hotel and a five-minute drive from the Batu City Square (Alun-Alun), Umbul Gemulo also functions as a community-based, open tourist destination.

Community Management and Tourism Potential

The management of Umbul Gemulo employs a community-based tourism (CBT) approach, led by the local supervisory community group (Pokmaswas). Residents independently maintain the area's cleanliness, install educational signboards, and inform visitors about the importance of not polluting the water source.

"A model like this is important to safeguard. Tourism can proceed without damaging the environment because it is directly managed by the community who understand the local conditions," said Firman Ardian Yuliansyah, a Government Science student at the University of Muhammadiyah Malang, in an interview on Sunday (July 10, 2025).

Firman Ardian Yuliansyah, a Government Science student at the University of Muhammadiyah Malang, stands in front of a resident's stall located near the Umbul Gemulo area. (PHOTO: Ardana Pramayoga/TIMES Indonesia)

Mr. Yuliansyah added that community participation is a form of synergy in environmental preservation. He believes the involvement of youth is also crucial to sustain Umbul Gemulo against the threat of commercialization.

"We have a moral responsibility. At the very least, we can speak out, write, or get involved in educational and advocacy activities," he explained.

Threats from Development Projects

Umbul Gemulo now faces threats from several nearby development projects. An open discussion organized by the Indonesian Green Community (Komunitas Indonesia Hijau - KIH), the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (WALHI) East Java, and Nawakalam Gemulo noted plans for a hotel, a rest area, and a tourist park within a radius of less than 200 meters from the spring.

According to Aris Faudin, Director of Nawakalam Gemulo, such construction could compromise the quality and sustainability of Umbul Gemulo. This threat is compounded by Batu City Regulation No. 7 of 2022 concerning the Regional Spatial Plan (RTRW), which no longer includes several spring areas, including Umbul Gemulo, in the protected zone.

The ancestral shrine (Punden), located not far from the Umbul Gemulo spring, is part of the local community's cultural site and is still used for traditional rituals today. (PHOTO: Ardana Pramayoga/TIMES Indonesia)

This local regulation contradicts Presidential Decree No. 32 of 1990, which mandates that areas surrounding water springs must be protected. However, the Batu City Government has yet to provide legal certainty regarding the protection of Umbul Gemulo as a water source conservation area.

Sustaining the Water Source Through Synergy

Without supportive conservation policies, the community's self-management efforts risk being overwhelmed by pressure from massive development. Although Umbul Gemulo offers ecological, social, and economic benefits to residents, its existence remains vulnerable without strengthened legal protection.

Mr. Yuliansyah hopes the local government will grant a larger role to the local community in managing environment-based tourism. "Give the community the space to lead the management. Facilitate them, instead of providing opportunities for investors," he stated.

The continued community-based management of Umbul Gemulo demonstrates that public participation is key to environmental preservation. However, without policy support and legal protection, this potential could be eroded by commercial pressures. (*)