Tesfaye Zeleke (PhD)Hawine Benti2024-02-132024-02-132022-12https://etd.aau.edu.et/handle/123456789/1768In developing society forest play crucial role providing economic and cultural services though all human beings are dependent on forest in one way or another. Households living adjacent to forest acquire wide range of forest product for living. To positively impact environmental preservation through forest conservation as a contribution to sustainable natural resource use ecotourism situated in natural setting of PAs and NPs. Park development is fundamental for forest conservation as its benefits range from environmental, cultural, and social to economic. Through tourism PAs and NPs can be hub of economic activities for adjacent communities through job creation. Thus, acceptance and involvement of local communities in conservation initiatives is critical to the viability and sustainability of PAs and NPs. In the 1800s, Entoto Mountain served as a palace and royal court for Emperor Menelik. The mountain is densely forested with eucalyptus trees imported from Australia during Menelik II's reign and mostly planted during Emperor Haile Selassie's reign. The dense forest on the mountain serves as the "lung of Addis Ababa," regulating the city's climate. In the past, the city relies heavily on the forest on the mountain for firewood and building material. Later, the Ethiopian Prime Minister started Entoto Natural Park as a tourist attraction. The study aimed to assess the effect of Entoto Park development in improving the socioeconomic condition of adjacent communities particularly of “firewood collector women's" through job creation and provision of alternative livelihood program. The study also examines the women’s awareness on the benefitof park development for forest conservation and its role in changing the practice and attitude toward forest. A mixed research design is applied to the study; quantitative data were gathered through questionnaire, and qualitative data were collected through semi-structured KII and FGD. Quantitative and Qualitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis. The study's findings suggest that, while Entoto Park Development provided job opportunities for 385 firewood collector women, it did not result in socioeconomic improvement. The study found that the women understood the park's critical role in conserving biodiversity and protecting the environment, limiting the extractive behavior that threatens forest biodiversity. The inclusion of stakeholders in providing and supporting the livelihood of local community 'firewood collectors' with policy developments that prioritize the integration of local community is required for better conservation and livelihood improvement.enParkForestWomen’sLivelihoodForest conservationThesis