GUIDANCE AND EDUCATION ON ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY AGRICULTURAL AND ECOTOURISM MANAGEMENT IN THE NORTHERN BANDUNG REGION (KBU): A CASE STUDY OF MANDALAMEKAR VILLAGE, CIMENYAN DISTRICT, BANDUNG REGENCY Saraswati (a*), Asep Hariyanto (a), Ivan Chofyan (a), Syifa Rahmawati (a), Laura Audina (a), Reynate Firyal (a), Wafa Cantika Mugia Utami (a), Imam Muttaqin (a)
a) Urban and regional Planning Study Program, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Islam Bandung, Indonesia
*saraswati[at]unisba.ac.id
Abstract
The Northern Bandung Region (Kawasan Bandung Utara/KBU) in West Java Province plays a crucial role as a conservation area for Bandung City, Cimahi City, Bandung Regency, West Bandung Regency, and Sumedang Regency. This region is strategically important for preserving environmental sustainability and maintaining ecological balance. However, pressure from land-use conversion and the increasing development of built-up areas has led to environmental degradation, including land degradation and the loss of regional potential. Mandalamekar Village, located in Cimenyan District, is one of the villages within the KBU that holds significant potential for agricultural development, with key commodities including shallots, potatoes, cabbage, corn, peanuts, tomatoes, and chilies. Situated at an elevation of approximately 800-1,200 meters above sea level, the village enjoys a cool climate and offers beautiful, lush scenery. Existing tourism attractions in Mandalamekar Village include cafes, lodgings, villas, rest areas for hikers and cyclists, and scenic viewpoints showcasing Bandungs city lights at night. These features make Mandalamekar Village highly strategic for the development of nature-based tourism. Accordingly, the preservation and sustainability of the environment are essential in the development of eco-friendly ecotourism in the area. This community service initiative aims to provide assistance and education to the local community in managing environmentally friendly and community-based sustainable agriculture and ecotourism. The implementation of Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) serves to enhance the communitys capacity in optimizing the management of agricultural land and tourism sites. Local residents are expected to become more aware and proactive in maintaining environmental sustainability through practices such as appropriate planting systems, land treatment, the use of suitable growing media, organic fertilizers, as well as the management of agricultural and touris
Keywords: Northern Bandung Region- environmentally friendly agriculture- ecotourism
