
The Universitas Gadjah Mada Community Service Program (KKN-PPM UGM) Sembalun Beralun unit organized a community clean-up along the Mount Rinjani hiking trail as part of their commitment to environmental conservation.
The activity took place on Tuesday, Jul. 29, 2025, along the Kandang Sapi route, Sajang Village, Sembalun District, East Lombok Regency, West Nusa Tenggara.
Mount Rinjani is renowned as one of Indonesia’s leading tourist destinations, offering breathtaking natural panoramas and challenging hiking terrain.
However, its popularity has also brought serious environmental challenges, particularly the increasing volume of waste along the hiking trails.
Through this initiative, the KKN-PPM UGM team seeks to raise collective awareness of the importance of maintaining cleanliness and preserving natural tourism areas.
The clean-up was a collaborative effort between KKN UGM students and the youth of Sajang Village.
Early in the morning, participants gathered at the trailhead and began walking together along the route leading to the lower area, a popular hiking destination.
Along the way, the team focused on collecting plastic waste and other litter left behind by visitors.
Naufal Ibra, Coordinator of the Environmental Restoration Program, explained that the activity aimed not only to clean polluted areas but also to foster environmental education and awareness among the community.
“We want to encourage everyone, especially the younger generation, to care for nature, with the hope of fostering collective awareness. This clean-up is a small step that can make a big impact if done consistently and together,” he said in a statement to reporters on Thursday, Aug. 3, 2025.
The initiative received a warm response from local residents.
Aading, a youth from Sajang Village, expressed his enthusiasm for the clean-up.
“The presence of KKN students in Sajang Village, especially in Bawak Nao Hamlet, has motivated and inspired us to be more active in contributing to village development,” he said.
This community clean-up represents a tangible form of synergy between students and local communities in creating sustainable tourism areas.
In addition to the Kandang Sapi route, similar programs are planned at several other strategic points around Sajang Village.
This effort is expected to serve as a model for environmental conservation movements that can be replicated in other tourist destinations.
As a university committed to community service, UGM continues to encourage its students to actively participate in environmental preservation efforts.
Through the KKN-PPM program, students not only gain experience applying their knowledge in the field but also internalize the spirit of mutual cooperation, social responsibility, and leadership that prioritizes the public interest.
By integrating academic knowledge, concrete actions, and partnerships with local communities, UGM remains committed to being part of the solution to environmental challenges in Indonesia.
This clean-up of the Rinjani hiking trail is one of UGM’s contributions to promoting nature-based tourism and sustainable community empowerment.
Author: Bolivia Rahmawati
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Lintang Andwyna
Photographs: Sembalun Beralun Team