MEKELLE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS DEPARTMENT OF MANAGEMENT Community Based Ecotourism Development as a Viable Strategy for Sustainable Natural Resource Management: Opportunities and Challenges. The Case of Borena-Saynt Park: South Wollo, Ethiopia. By Amogne Asfaw Eshetu (ID.No.FBE/ PR/0005/00) A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Master of Arts Degree (MA) in Development Studies Advisor: Gebremedihn Yihdego (Assistant professor) Co-advisor: Micheal Tsegay (MSc) February, 2010 Mekelle, Ethiopia Declaration This is to certify that this thesis entitled “ Community Based Ecotourism Development as a Viable Strategy for Sustainable Natural Resource Management: Opportunities and Challenges. The case of Borena-Saynt Park: South Wollo, Ethiopia ” submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of the degree of MA., in Development Studies to the College of Business and Economics, Mekelle University, through the Department of Management, done by Mr. Amogne Asfaw Eshetu , Id.No.FBE/ PR/0005/00 is an authentic work carried out by him under my guidance. The matter embodied in this project work has not been submitted earlier for award of any degree or diploma to the best of my knowledge and belief. Name of the student Amogne Asfaw Eshetu Signature__________________Date ________ Name of the Advisors Gebremedihn Yihdego (Assistant professor) Signature__________Date ________ Michael Tsegaye (MSc) Signature_______________ Date ________________ ACKNOWLEDGEMENT I am indebted to a number of individuals; without whose efforts this study would not have been completed in time. First and foremost I would like to express my deepest gratitude to my advisors Gebremedihn Yihdego (Assistant professor) and Ato Micheal Tsegay for their exhaustive review and constructive comments right from the inception up to the finalization of this thesis. Without their guidance and comments, the study would have remained incomplete. Thanks are owed to all individuals and organizations involved in this research, namely, data enumerators, all interviewed individuals and households, participants of focus group discussions, workers from Borena wereda and South Wollo Administrative Zone Agricultural and rural development, tourism and information offices for their unreserved assistance and provision of the required information. I deserve deepest appreciation for my wife, Misaye Cheru, for her unreserved care, love and encouragement throughout my study. My parents and relatives, fountains of encouragement, worth thanks beyond what words can express. I am enormously grateful to my friends and colleagues for their moral, technical and financial assistance during my work. I would like to express my best acknowledgment to W/ro Abaynesh Getahun, W/rt Kubra Seid, W/ro Kelemua Mitiku, W/rt Fentanesh, W/ro Martha Teklu, W/ro Serkalem Mengistie, W/rt Sintayehu Mulugeta and members of Geography and Environmental study department of Wollo University for their invaluable assistance during the study. In addition, I would like to express my best acknowledgment to Ayele Admasu (my brother), Fentaw Geto and Temensgen Ayele (Janeberu Kebelle Development Agents) for their cooperation and support during the fieldwork. I express my sincere thanks to Ato Getnet Melak, Ato Gashaw Tefera, Ato Tesfaye Azane, Ato Anteneh Tesfaye, Ato Amare Abebe, Ato Getachew Eshetu, Ato Gebeyaw Bekelle and Ato Tesfaw Workenh (from Borena Wereda); Ato Gashaw Mekonen, Ato Beyen, Ato Abebaw, Ato Moges Admasu, Ato Mulugeta and Ato Wondale Habtamu (from South Wollo Administrative Zone) and Dr. Zelealem Tefera and w/ro Zebiba (from Frankfurt Zoological Society) for their invaluable guide and constant encouragement during this research. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS CONTENT PAGE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT iii LIST OF TABLES vii LIST OF FIGURES viii LIST OF MAPS viii ACRONYMS ix ABSTRACT x CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background of the Study 1 1.2 Statement of the Problem 3 1.3 Research Questions 5 1.4 Objectives of the Study 6 1.5 Significance of the Study 6 1.6 Rationale of the Study 7 1.7 Delimitation of the Study 7 1.8 Limitation of the Study 7 1.9 Description of Study Area 8 CHAPTER 2: REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE Community Based Ecotourism Development as a Viable Strategy for Sustainable Natural Resource Management 12 2.1 Theoretical/Conceptual Frame Work 12 2.2 Definition of Concepts 13 2.2.1 Tourism 13 2.2.2 Sustainable Tourism 13 2.2.3 Ecotourism 14 2.2.4 Community Based Ecotourism 14 iv 2.3 Significance of Ecotourism - Why Ecotourism? 15 2.3.1 Economic Benefits 15 2.3.2 Environmental Benefits 17 2.3.3 Social Benefits 17 2.4 Side Effects /Negative Impacts of Ecotourism 18 2.4.1 Negative Economic Effects of Ecotourism 18 2.4.2 Negative Environmental Effects of Ecotourism 18 2.4.3 Negative Socio-cultural Effects of Ecotourism 19 2.5 Mechanisms to Minimize the Negative Effects of Ecotourism 20 2.6 Community Based Ecotourism and Local Communities 21 2.7 Ecotourism, Environment and Sustainable Development 23 2.8 Ecotourism as a Viable Strategy for SNRM: Case Studies 24 2.9 Necessary Conditions for the Development of Ecotourism 28 2.10 Ecotourism Development in Ethiopia 29 2.11 Forest Degradation in Ethiopia 30 2.11.1 Forest Resource of Ethiopia: Past and Present 30 2.11.2 Significance of Forest 31 2.11.3 Main Causes of Deforestation in Ethiopia 31 2.11.4 Consequences of Deforestation 33 CHAPTER 3: DESIGN OF THE STUDY (METHODOLOGY) 3.1 Research Type 34 3.2 Target Population, Sampling Methods and Samples 34 3.2.1 Target Population 34 3.2.2 Sampling Methods and Samples 35 3.3 Data Collection: Methods and Tools 35 3.4 Data Processing and Analysis 36 v CHAPTER 4: RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS 4.1 Ecotourism Resources in and Around Borena-Saynt Park 37 4.1.1 Natural Ecotourism Resources 37 4.1.2 Cultural Ecotourism Resources 42 4.2 Socio-Economic Situation of the Local Community near to Borena-Saynt Park 44 4.3 Major Problems for the Development of Community Based Ecotourism on Borena-Saynt Park 48 4.4 Benefits of Ecotourism Development to the Local Community 60 4.5 Opportunities for the Development of Community Based Ecotourism on Borena-Saynt Park 61 4.6 Major Threats and Challenges for the Management of the Park and Development of Ecotourism on the Park 64 CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 5.1 Conclusions 66 5.2 Recommendations 68 REFERENCE 71 ANNEX Annex 1 Structured Questionnaire for Household Heads 78 Annex 2 Semi-Structured Focus Group Discussion Questionnaire 84 Annex 3 Semi-structured Questionnaire for Interview 87 Annex 4 Formats used to collect secondary data 88 Annex 5 Demographic Characteristics of Sample Respondents 90 Annex 6 Contribution of Tourism in Achieving the MDGs 91 Annex 7 Fauna Recorded in Borena-Saynt Park 93 Annex 8 Birds (Avifauna) of Borena- Saynt Park 94 Annex 9 Flora of Borena -Saynt Park 96 vi LIST OF TABLES TABLE PAGE Table 1 Comparison of Borena Wereda with South Wollo, ANRS and Ethiopia 9 Table 2 Forms of community involvement in ecotourism development 23 Table 3 Primary and Secondary occupation of sampled respondents 44 Table 4 Major source of grazing land for domestic animals 45 Table 5 Size of grazing land of sampled households in the last five years 46 Table 6 Major problems of the sampled households related to rearing of animals 46 Table 7 Major type of energy used for cooking at household level and major source of fuel wood 47 Table 8 Modern fuel saving stoves (merit) usage and determinant factors 47 Table 9 Major problems of the sampled households in agricultural activity 49 Table 10 View of respondents on size of Borena Saynt Park in the last five years 50 Table 11 Natural resources needed from the park by local communities 51 Table 12 Responses on level of natural resource degradation in and around Borena-Saynt Park 54 Table 13 Involvement of local communities natural resource management and determinant factors 55 Table 14 Responses on illegal encroachment to the park by local communities and reasons 56 Table 15 Reports to Borena Wereda agricultural and rural development office regarding illegal encroachments of the park 57 Table 16 Responses on Legal usage of resources from the park for the local community 58 Table 17 Information of respondents about tourism and its advantage 59 Table 18 Trend of tourist flow to ANRS and revenue earned between 2004/05-2007/08 62 vii LIST OF FIGURES FIGURE PAGE Figure 1 Conceptual frame work of the problem 12 Figure 2 Linkages between tourism with poverty reduction and environmental management 15 Figure 3 Components of travel and tourism industry 28 Figure 4 Some fascinating sceneries of the park 38 Figure 5 Flora of the park 40 Figure 6 Some endemic mammals found in Borena-Saynt Park 41 Figure 7 Cultural manifestations of Borena Wereda 42 Figure 8 Typical type of house around the Park 43 Figure 9 Some local products (To be market resources for tourists) 43 Figure 10 Settlement very close to the Park 53 Figure 11 Grazing of the Park by livestock 53 Figure 12 Expansion of farming activity towards the Park 53 Figure 13 Highly degraded land adjacent to the Forest 54 Figure 14 Cut and carry of Guassa (Festuca spp.) from the Park 57 Figure 15 Traditional beekeeping in side the park 59 Figure 16 Blue Nile gorges 63 Figure 17 Lodge at the edge of the Park 64 Figure 18 Shape of Borena -Saynt Park 65 LIST OF MAPS MAP PAGE Map 1 Ethiopia - National Regional State Divisions 10 Map 2 Amhara National Regional State- Zonal divisions 10 Map 3 Borena Wereda Kebelle Divisions 10 viii ACRONYMS AND OPERATIONAL