History of Bale Mountains National ParK: 1970 to the Present
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Date
2015-11
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The BAINP is located in the southeastern part of Ethiopia within Bale zone of the Oromia
Regional State. The existing literature reveals there were only fe\V permanent Oromo set/lers in
the Bale Alountains before the inauguration of the national park in the area and the settlers
livelihood was partially depend on the hunting of wild animals. In the late 19th and early 20th
centuries hunting big game animals \Vas seen as a source of prestige in Ethiopian SOCiety. Wild
animals were also hunted for commercial purpose. Tireless ~fJOriS were made by the Ethiopian
government and the agents of UNESCO to save the most endangered and endemic wildlife as
well as conserve outstanding and splendor environment in Ethiopia. Based on the
recommendations of UNESCO some areas of the counlly were selected for the development of
national parks. Accordingly the process of establishing the national park began in the 1950s and
1960s to save the countl)' 's fauna and flora species from complete damage. Bale Mountains
were one of those areas rich in wildlife resources and attention of UNESCO agents.
This thesis begins with the geographical features of the BtvflllP and offers analysis on the
management 0/ wildlife resources and parks in Ethiopia. jt also provides a brief description of
human activities and the process of the establishment o/the EMNP and subsequent conservation
policy and implementations by different governments. Moreover, if also gives the trend of
tourism in the 8MNP since its establishment to the present comprehensively.
j was able to use a combination of primwy and secondmy sources to reconstruct the thesis. The
archival sources, reports, memo, traveler accounts, lellers and other published and unpublished
secondary sources are important materials to reconstruct the thesis.
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History of Bale Mountains National ParK