Ecotourism Potentials of the Proposed Hallaideghe Asebot National Park, Northern Rift Valley of Ethiopia

In the features of deprivation of natural resources and lack of additional income, there are potentials of ecotourism in the proposed Hallaideghe-Asebot national park (HANP), which is being degraded by anthropogenic activities. This study examined ecotourism potentials of the proposed HANP for sustainable natural resources management. Descriptive research design was employed to collect relevant data. Data were collected through primary and secondary sources. The findings showed that ecotourism potentials of the study area lie in three distinctive landscapes: Hallaideghe plain, Asebot Mountain and Bilen spring areas, as well as cultural and historical attractions. Sever grazing by livestock, deforestation, and inter-ethnic conflicts are detected as the major drivers of change in the area. Finally, introducing ecotourism is important strategic direction for sustainable management of natural resources for the proposed HANP and related protected areas in Ethiopia.

: Location map of the study area (Source : Daniel Worku, 2016) The park encompasses an area of 1098 km 2 which comprise two distinctive landscapes: Mount Asebot and the Hallaydeghe plain. The Park is a semi-arid ecosystem with annual rain fall range between 400 and 700 mm. The rainfall pattern is bimodal with two distinct seasons. Short rains occur during March and April while long rains occur during July and August. The temperatures range from 40C to 15C. The months October to January are the coolest while the warmest temperature prevails during May and June.
Flora and Fauna: The Park features, include grassland, bare land, scatter grass and tree land (shrub land), bush land, woodland and Afro-alpine forest. The overall vegetation type that covers the largest part of the area is classified as grassland plains with savannah woodland and as the Acacia-Commiphora woodland and bush land. These vegetation types inhabit many residential and migrating birds. Additionally, mammal species like; Grevy's zebra (Flagship species), Beisa Oryx, and Soemmering's Gazelles -in the open areas, Gerenuk, and Lesser Kudus -in the bushed areas, the tiny salt Dik-Dik -under the dry acacia bushes and-Leopards, Lions, Cheetah, Black-Backed and Common Jackals, Caracal, Serval cat and Wildcats are also seen in the area very rarely.
Socio-economy: The people who settled in and around the proposed national park are the ethnic group of Afar, Oromo-Ittu and Somali-Issa. Pastorals and agro pastorals are mainly dominating the socio economic condition in HANP and the surrounding environs (Daniel Worku, 2016). Pastoral communities who dwelled in and around HANP area primarily depend on livestock for food and wealth accumulation. So this evidence shows the dynamic population increase which ultimately could put a big pressure on the natural resources unless new economic activities that can absorb this work force and endowed with means of livelihood are emerged or the existing ventures are consolidated in the area.

Methods
This study was done as part of the requirement for master degree. Both qualitative and quantitative research designs were applied for the better success of the study following (Decrop, 1999). This study used both primary and secondary sources of data. The primary data was gathered from local community, park managers, government representatives, eco-lodges owners and conservation practitioners. In addition, secondary data were used to supplement the survey data which involves the books, published and unpublished materials, government archives, reports, documents, thesis and dissertations, and internet sources. Finally, the results of the analysis were interpreted and presented using descriptive statistics. Data collected through key informant interview, focused group discussion and field observation were analyzed in the form of text to units of relevant meaning and summarization. Data collected from informal discussion were note down in field diary and afterward were analyzed by the help of text clarifications.

Result and Discussion
Assessment on Eco-Tourism Potentials at the proposed Hallaideghe Asebot National Park (HANP) was made based on natural attractions, cultural features, and tourism activities; from the perspective of identifying conservation challenges hindering the management activity and to endorse potential lessening strategies.

Ecotourism potentials of the proposed Hallaideghe Asebot national park
At the proposed Hallaideghe Asebot national park, three distinctive major tourist attractions areas were identified. Namely: the Hallaideghe plain, Asebot Mountain and Bilen hot springs with the vicinities. The national park is the beginning to start the north east and east tourist spots. The extensive wilderness in this remote northeastern part of Ethiopia lies around Dallol, which has semi-desert trees and succulent scrub, semi-arid grass and plains, shrub-steppe, bush land, and acacia-wooded grassland. Witnessing the flow of lava from deep in the ground is a breathtaking sight. Its Major physical and geological features include Awash River, active volcanoes, archeological sites, extensive arid-desert ecosystem, nearby alkaline lakes and Dallol Depression. Also, the bordering areas include controlled hunting areas and national parks. The Afdem-Gewane controlled hunting area is found in the north east and the Bilen-Hertale controlled hunting area to the north. Awash National Park is found to the western side and in between these two protected areas is Gara-Gumbi open hunting area. To the east the proposed national park is the gate way to Harar wall (world heritage site), Saint Kulubi Gebreal, Table1

. Vegetation of the Park
The major vegetation types in and around the national park includes grassland, bush land, shrub land, wooded grassland, shrub grassland gallery/riverine forests and highland forests. About 70 plant species have been identified in the study area (Almaz, 2009). Chrysopogon plumulosus and Sporobulus iocladus comprise a relatively high percentage of herbaceous vegetation on the plains. The southern, northern, and western edges of the area are bush-grasslands or shrub lands, with Acacia senegal being the dominant species. In some parts of the grassland, P.juliflora is becoming the dominant woody species. The woody plant species in the plains of this national park include Acacia senegal, Acacia tortilis, Acacia mellifera, Balanitis aegyptiaca, Cadaba species and

.2.2. Mammals
The national park is primarily known for its population of Grevy's zebra (Figure 3) that thrived on the extensive perennial grass lands (Fanuel, 2012). Information obtained from the national park office indicated that More than 32 large mammal species are recorded in the park excluding bats and rats. Large mammal species include Beisa Oryx, Soemmering's Gazelle, gerenuk, lion, leopard, cheetah, black-backed Jackal, Bat-eared fox, common Jackal, spotted hyena, aardvark, tree climbers and others. According to Fanuel Kebede (2012), the Hallaideghe grass land plain harbors the largest populations of Grevy's zebra, Soemmering's Gazelle and Beisa Oryx in Ethiopia.

Birds
Hallaydeghe-Asebot and the surroundings count to one of the important bird areas in Ethiopia and is a resting place for migrating birds. More than 150 Bird Species have been identified. Ostriches, vultures, various species of bustards and eagles and many other birds are magnificent. The Hallaydeghe plains and the Asebot Mountain forest provide unique habitats for a diverse birdlife (Manjana Tausendfreund, 2018). Birds of prey are also common in most parts of the park and highland birds are always vocalizing in the Asebot forests (Daniel Worku, Journal  Arabian Bustard Ardeotis arabs Near threatened 3 Kori Bustard Ardeotis kori Near threatened 4 Dark Chanting-goshawk Melierax metabates Least concern 5 Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus Endangered 6 Rüppell's Vulture Gyps rueppelli Critically endangered 7 Tawny eagle Aquila rapax Least concern 8 White-backed Vulture Gyps africanus Critically endangered 9 White-headed Vulture Trigonoceps occipitalis Critically endangered 10 Abyssinian Ground-hornbill Bucorvus abyssinicus Least concern 11 Grey-headed Kingfisher Halcyon leucocephala Least concern 12 Somali Ostrich Struthio molybdophanes Vulnerable 13 Yellow-throated Sandgrouse Pterocles gutturalis Least concern 14 Secretarybird Sagittarius serpentarius Vulnerable 15 White-Faced Turaco.

Tauraco leucotis
Least concern 16 Northern Red Bishop Euplectes franciscanus Least concern Source: HANP office and field survey surrounded by two major high ways, the Addis Ababa-Djibouti and Addis Ababa-Harar-Dire Dawa high ways, connecting the major tourist destinations of north east and east parts of Ethiopia respectively; and is easily accessible for visitors. Besides these tracks of road, the national park has buildings and three outposts to cater for visitors. Currently game rangers or park scouts are providing guiding services and accompanying tourists during visitation of the area.
There are inadequate of infrastructures, camping grounds, roads, and complementary services. Experts of the national park pointed out, many visitors who come to the area are bird watchers and rest stoppers who finished their trip at Erta Ale active volcano. So, the area is not well advertized by EWCA and other concerned stakeholders. Currently two lodges are offering service for visitors around HANP, Village Ethiopia Bilen lodge and Animalia lodge, each 10 km and 6 km far from the Head Quarter, Andido, respectively.
Around 200 tourists visit Hallaideghe-Asebot National Park annually, yielding nearly 20,000 Ethiopian Birr in year from entrance (gate) revenue, excludes guiding services and related activities. Many of these visitors are day-trippers or will overnight either camping at the Bilen hot spring or staying the nearby village Ethiopia Bilen or Animalia lodges. The recent established Doho lodge which is located 30 km west HANP head quarter, 18 km from the entrance to the Hallaideghe plain enhances tourist facilities in the destination.

Conclusion and Recommendation
Eco tourism potential of proposed Hallaideghe Asebot National Park (HANP) is assessed based on natural attractions, cultural features, and tourism facilities. The findings of the research revealed some of ecotourism potentials of HANP. The main ecotourism potentials of HANP include; flora and Fauna, extensive plain, Asebot Mountain and its monastery, Bilen springs and cultural living styles of the local community. Additionally, diverse species of mammals, birds with scenic beauty of the landscape. All the resources listed in HANP contributed to attract eco tourists or game viewers to the park. However, while currently the park offers a wealth of potential, its utilization is limited. At this point, along with the joint efforts of the local people-especially in the private sector-and the local and central government, developing and managing ecotourism in HANP are of great importance. On the other hand, anthropogenic pressures are identified as the main conservation challenges; hence the park requires immediate intervention.