Assessing Community Based Ecotourism Among Guji Oromo Pastoral Community in Nechsar National Park, Southern Ethiopia
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Date
2013-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
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.
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Keywords
Community Based Ecotourism, Conservation, Protected area, Stakeholder, Community, and Settlement