Community Based Eco-Tourism as a Biodiversity Conservation and Livelihood Option in Rural Ethiopia: A Case Study on Mountain Abuna Yosef and Its Surrounding Area, North Wollo

Abstract

Different studies have been take place related with community based eco-tourism development, community perspective on ecotourism site, value of community based eco-tourism for biodiversity conservation and sustainable economic development in Ethiopia, accordingly this thesis were aimed at investigating with the objectives of exploring how community based eco-tourism can be used as a biodiversity conservation and livelihood option in rural Ethiopia; the case of Mt. Abuna Yosef, and its surrounding area of North Wollo Zone. In order to achieve the objective of the study, both primary and secondary data were generated by employing qualitative (using case study, focus group discussion, in-depth interview and on-spot observation) and quantitative (mainly using household survey and visitor survey questionnaires) methods. Purposive and simple random sampling techniques were used to select three community based eco-tourism sites in the study area and 80 representative sample households respectively. The quantitative data were analyzed using frequency, percentage, standardization and mean when appropriate while qualitative data were used to triangulate and substantiate the study. The finding result shows that Mt. Abuna Yosef and its surrounding area is highly potential area of biodiversity, natural and cultural tourism resources with limited infrastructural development. The study also identified several potentially adverse effects that can limit project implementation of biodiversity conservation and community based eco-tourism business development. The paper concludes that community based eco-tourism in the area has not currently moved towards as a biodiversity conservation and livelihood options. In addition the potential to contribute as a form of sustainable livelihood for people living adjacent to the mountain protected site will be utilized when there is an effective collaboration between government and indigenous people is created.

Keywords: Community, Eco-Tourism, Sustainable Livelihood, and Biodiversity Conservation

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