Development Study

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Browsing Development Study by Subject "Conservation"

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    Assessing Community Based Ecotourism Among Guji Oromo Pastoral Community in Nechsar National Park, Southern Ethiopia
    (Addis Ababa University, 2013-06) Woyesa, Tamagn; Senbeta, Feyera (PhD)
    A study was carried-out to assess the possibility of community based ecotourism in Nechsar National Park among Guji pastoral community in Southern Ethiopia. To this end, data was collected through interview, focus group discussion and from written sources. The collected data was analyzed using qualitative approaches. The study results show that the park is in critical conditions as previous conservation effort didn't bear any significant improvement to neither the community nor biodiversity resources. Various ecological crises are vividly observed in the park. The pastoral Guji community residing within the park is completely dependent on Nechsar National Park resources as main source of livelihoods such as pasture and water for their livestock; and has never been part of government conservation efforts. The study identified that the previous attempt made to achieve conservation in Necsar National Park based on traditional top-down approach recognizes Guji Pastoral community as a threat to conservation. There are challenges of implementing community based ecotourism in the park as far as the Guji community is concerned. As a result the community has never been part of government conservation and tourism based benefit in the park. The effect in community eroded sense of ownership and developed negative perception towards the park activities. In addition the research suggests the need of incorporating intangible cultural resources of Guji community which can be used as an asset for conservation and tourism attraction adding on already identified traditional (natural) attractions in Nechsar National Park. The study recommended the implementation of community based ecotourism in Nechsar National Park recognizing Guji community as active part of the conservation effort in and around the park. It also argues the possibility of enhancing protected area conservation through community based conservation to guarantee sustainability. Key Words: Community Based Ecotourism, Conservation, Protected area, Stakeholder, Community, and Settlement.