Browsing by Author "Ayele, Assegid"

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Ecotourism as a Sustainable Development Option: Case Study from Bale Mountains National Park.
    (Addis Ababa University, 2011) Ayele, Assegid; Feseha, Mulugeta (PhD)
    This thesis has attempted fa uncover how ecotollrism practices in BMNP proved to provide livelihood options for the local communities; and emerged to be a tool for biodiversity conservation. The study has carried out in BMNP considering Dinisho Wereda and four kebels as sample. The rationale for the selection of Dinisho Wereda and the four kebeles is the focI that the Wereda has better tourism facilities, easily accessible; and the significan t economic and environmental implications of ecotourisl1'l have been realizable and visible in this Wereda. The study has employed multiple methodologies. Thus, qualitative and quantitative research strategies; household survey design; and multi stage, purposive, and simple random sampling techniques have been used. The findings of the study has revealed that the baggage of local communities dependence on unsustainable use of the natural resources a/park continue to exist. The local communities have exhaustively depended on agriculture as the main stay. Thus, ecotourism has hardly been emerged as an alternative livelihood for the local communities. Whereas the income generated from eCOfDurism has not yet been reinvested for community development and natural resource conservation. Biodiversity conservation has still been embedded within financial shortfalls. Ecotourism developmelll in BMNP is not claimed to be economically and environmentally sound. It has been recommended that whUe carrying out any projects ill BMNP IVhere peoples' and resource interactioll is high, the local communities illterests should not be marred as a bellefactor. Ecotourism activities should acquire specific policy guide lines and institutional basements. The development of ecotourism should explicitly recognize the sltstenance of natural resources in reconciliation with Ihe economic wellbeing of the local communities. Key ;W0rds: Ecotourism, biodiversity, livelihoods, income, sustainability and conservation