Bangka Belitung's Sacred Springs: Forests as Sources of Clean Water

In the past, the Malay people of the Bangka Belitung Islands lived and farmed around small river streams. They built 'ume' (huts) and 'kelekak' (farms), and utilized water from 'tumbek', a term for springs that serve as the headwaters for numerous tributaries. Tumbek are typically found in hilly forests, either revered by the local community or designated as forbidden areas, off-limits to cultivation. In late August 2026, Mongabay Indonesia visited the forest of Gunung Cundong, a sacred area for the Mapur tribe in the northern part of Bangka Island. Gunung Cundong, spanning approximately 320 hectares, hosts one tumbek that is the source of 12 tributaries. "Water, that's the reason we protect it," said Atok Kasmin (73), a Mapur resident living near the Gunung Cundong forest, on Thursday (27/8/26). The Mapur tribe also has other sacred tumbek forests, such as the Air Tumbek Benak forest within the Gunung Pelawan landscape. The Tumbek Air Benak feeds numerous tributaries utilized by the Mapur tribe for farming around the Bukit Tabun forest. The Mapur people believe that if the forest areas containing tumbek are damaged, the water flow will cause illness among residents who consume it. "That illness is called 'kutuk' or a curse," said Abok Gedoi, the Customary Chief of the Mapur Tribe in Air Abik Village, on Tuesday (17/8/26). Generally, the sacralization of tumbek forests is quite common among the communities of Bangka Belitung. Mongabay Indonesia's investigation revealed similar stories from communities culturally connected to Bukit Menumbing and Bukit Pelangas (West Bangka), Bukit Nenek (South Bangka), Bukit Mangkol and Gunung Pading (Central Bangka), Gunung Maras and Bukit Tukak (Bangka Regency), and so on. These traditions reflect the sustainability of water resources and the spiritual connection of local communities.