Sustainable Agropolitan Management Model in the Highland of Tropical Rainforest Ecosystem: The Case of Selupu Rejang Agropolitan Area, Indonesia

This paper explores the management of SelupuRejangagropolitan area in RejangLebong regency in the province of Bengkulu. Bengkulu has been designed as a pilot area of agropolitan development since 2002. SelupuRejangagropolitan was the one of agropolitan areas which has not reached the ideal target yet. Pressure on the environment was arising as a result of intensive farming activities, especially in the highland agricultural areas, causing the area unsustainable. The data reveal that there has been environmental degradation in SelupuRejangagropolitan due to agricultural activities. It is not in accordance with the principles of ecology in the region. Degraded environmental conditions can cause agropolitan become unsustainable, especially in the highland area that has an important role for the stability of ecosystem. Therefore, this study aims to build agropolitan area management model that integrates economic, social, and environment interests. Hence, the agropolitan development can be sustained by entering the interests of the environment in the development of the region in accordance with the rules of typical ecosystems in Indonesia, called the tropical rainforest ecosystem. This paper uses system dynamics to simulate the conditions of the region and the interventions to be carried out. The result is a model that can reduce environmental degradation. It can also simultaneously increase production and add value to the agricultural sector. Finally, the sustainability of agricultural production systems, rural economy, and environment can be maintained and improved.