From extractive mining to green tourism a case study of open pit Nam Salu Geosite through local community development

From Scars to Sanctuary: The Resurrection of Open Pit Nam Salu

For over a century, the rhythm of Belitong Island was dictated by the sound of machinery. Since 1908, the earth was hollowed out in search of tin, leaving behind a legacy of industrial scars. But today, a new story is being written one where the deep chasms of the past are becoming the foundations for a sustainable future.

1. The Legacy of the Dutch East Indies

The Open Pit Nam Salu isn’t just a site; it’s a time capsule. Having fueled the economy since the colonial era, its transition marks a seismic shift in Indonesian economic philosophy. With its designation as a UNESCO Global Geopark (UGGp), the site has moved from being a “resource to be drained” to a “heritage to be protected.”

2. The Heart of the Transition: Community-Led Growth

Transformation doesn’t happen through policy alone; it happens through people. This study utilizes a mixed-methods approach blending on the ground observations with the lived experiences of the Kelapa Kampit community. The findings reveal that Green Tourism is most resilient when the local community moves from being bystanders to being the primary architects of the geosite.

• Conservation as Capital: Protection of the unique geological formations is now the primary driver of revenue.
• Socio-Economic Resilience: By pivoting from mining to hospitality and education, the community has built an economy that doesn’t expire when the minerals run out.

3. A Blueprint for the “Green” Indonesia

The metamorphosis of Nam Salu is a proof-of-concept for the entire nation. It proves that environmental conservation and economic growth are not opposing forces, but rather two sides of the same coin.

The Nam Salu Model: Ecological preservation + Local empowerment = Sustainable Prosperity.

4. Opportunities and Hurdles

While the potential is vast, the journey from extraction to attraction isn’t without its challenges.

• The Opportunity: Leveraging the “Green Tourism” brand to attract global eco-travelers.
• The Challenge: Balancing the foot traffic of tourism with the delicate geological integrity of the site.

The Transformation Matrix

Feature	The Extractive Era (1908–Late 20th Century)	The Green Era (UNESCO Geopark Era)
Primary Goal	Resource Depletion (Tin)	Resource Conservation (Heritage)
Economic Driver	Global Commodity Markets	Local Community Development
Environmental Impact	Land Degradation	Ecological Restoration
Key Stakeholder	Mining Corporations	Local Communities & Stakeholders

It reminds us that even the deepest industrial pits can be filled with new life, proving that Indonesia’s greatest treasure isn’t what we take out of the ground, but how we honor what remains on it.

source:
https://journal.pusbindiklatren.bappenas.go.id/lib/jisdep/article/view/617