Ecotourism Potential Assessment of Dhera Dilfekar Block, Arsi Mountains National Park, Eastern Central Rift valley of Ethiopia

Ethiopia holds substantial ecotourism potentials that have to be promoted for economic development. This study was done with the objective of assessing ecotourism potentials of Dhera dilfekar block for ecotourism development. Dhera dilfekar block is one of the four blocks of Arsi Mountains National Park. Seven (7) major tourist attraction sites were identified namely; Dire kiltu hyena valley, Dire kiltu lesser kudu site, Dire kiltu greater kudu site , Fachiso greater kudu site , Gara dima hyena valley(1), Awash bishola dhagaa taa’aa valley and Gara dima hyena valley(2) .Additionally, the park can offer the visitor an opportunity to see lowland game species, a variety of bird species, Acacia dominated plant species with spectacular landscape, historical and Cultural sites which make the parks unique features to attract eco tourists. The block is the nearest to Addis Ababa (Finfinne) from any other Parks of our country and is found on the main asphalt road which goes to Bale Zone via Adama-Asella. Dhera dilfekar block is found in the lowland that situated in altitudinal elevation ranges from 1300 masl to 1835 masl. This makes the block to be visited all over the year for both domestic and international tourists since there is no mud to travel by vehicle and on foot. The proximity to Sodere resort hotel also brings additional opportunity to be visited by both domestic and foreign tourists. It can be concluded that the area is endowed with high Ecotourism potentials. It can also be good potential for bird watching tourism that can integrate economic gain with biodiversity conservation. Hence, urgent conservation measures and further detail research is recommended to promote this Ecotourism potentials.


INTRODUCTION
The tourism industry is considered one of the largest and fastest growing industries in the world (Cooper & Hall, 2008).The growing dynamics and increased destinations turned tourism to become a driver for socio-economic progress and the main income sources for many developing countries in which Ethiopia is apart (Papatheodorou, 2006). Ethiopia is known as a land of origins and biodiversity, a country of several ethnic groups, and a symbol of freedom who retained her sovereignty even during the colonial era has abundant natural and historical tourist attractions areas (Sinha, 2001).However, the tourism industry has not tapped its full potential to attract tourists in large numbers owing to poor investment in infrastructure development and inadequate promotion (UNWTC, 2010). The economy of Ethiopia has prospered for many years on agricultural products but currently, the country expands to industrialization and service providing for additional incomes through Ecotourism industry (Alamneh Amare, 2015). Proper understanding of the nature, significance and importance of these resources are essential for decision makers at all levels to make appropriate plans for improving the ecotourism in the regions (Mustefa Sultan and Teyiba Amano, 2017). However, the Eco tourism and conservation practices are still at low attention in the study area. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess and pointed out the attractive natural and cultural resources having Ecotourism potential to be developed in Dhera Dilfekar block of Arsi Mountains National Park.

MATERIALS AND METHODS 2.1. Description of the Study Area 2.1.1. Location:
The study was conducted in Dhera Dilfekar block, Arsi Mountains National Park, Eastern central rift valley of Ethiopia. Dhera Dilfekar block is located in Dodota district in the North eastern part of Arsi zone, Oromia Regional State. The geographic location of the study area is between 8 0 19'-8 0 22' N latitude and 39 0 19'-39 22' E longitude (Figure 1). The block was Adjacent to Dhera town, 25 km south from Adama town and 125 km far apart from Addis Ababa (Finfinne) town. It's also 15 km from the Sodere resort center in the south west, which is the most popular resort area, frequently visited.

Figure 1. Map of the Study Area
According to local elders evidences the term 'Dhera' is an Afan Oromo word which sense 'long height'. This 'long height' implies to hero person called 'Shek zulfekar' who lived in this area for many years. Since he was too long and a place was called simply Dhera-Dilfekar. This conservation block renamed after this famous person lived in the area.
The total area of block was 1341 hectares. This block is bordered with five kebeles; Dhera town [kebele 01 & 02] to the south west, Awash-Bishola to the north, Dilfekar to the south east and Dire-Kiltu to the east. The block is found in the edge of eastern central rift valley parts which is situated in altitudinal between 1300 to 1835 m above sea level. It's situated 50 km north of Asella, the zonal capital city and 25 km south of Adama town which is the most popular with MICE (Meeting, Incentive, conference and Exhibition) tourism. This makes the block to be visited all over the year by tourist. Even during wet season there is no mud to travel with vehicle and on foot.

Flora and fauna:
The park features are Acacia woodland, bush land and scrubland; which are crucial components of the park ecosystem, keeping the highly fragile soil of the area from erosion (Dereje Mokonin, 2006). The major attractive fauna is bird species. Additionally, Mammal species like; Warthog, Greater Kudu, lesser kudu and Hyenas are common animals.

Socioeconomic:
The people who settled in and around the park are the ethnic group of Oromo, Arsi clan. Farming practices is mainly dominating the surrounding areas of Dhera Dilfekar block (Dereje Mokonin, 2006). The major socio-economic problems are highly increasing number of human and livestock population density which could account for the boundary range shrinkages of Dhera Dilfekar bock. The bock is unsuitable for agronomy and heavy grazing but the local people use it for these purposes (DWAO, 2007).

Methods of data collection
This research paper is written based on both primary and secondary sources. To gather the primary data, semistructured questionnaires and field assessment were made to determine the opportunities for the development of ecotourism in Dhera Dilfekar block. The qualitative data were acquired through semi-structured questionnaire and interviews from selected groups. The researcher used purposeful sampling method to select informants. The interview was made with twenty-one (21) knowledgeable informants who were selected purposefully. Three (3) experts from the park , park warden, two (2) experts from culture and tourism office of Dodota district, and ten (10) elders from the local area. The sample size was determined based on the quality of information obtained from the informants. The secondary data were collected from journals, books, web sites and official documents. Also, inventory assessments were taken to collect the status of biodiversity resource through plant specimen collection, transect walk and field observation. An inventory was made using direct observation and specimen collection which is supported with field materials such as Nikon D3200 Digital camera, Nikon action 10x50 Binocular, Garmin 60 GPS and materials for field plant press.

Data Analysis
The collected quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive and explanatory statistics; Microsoft Excel and SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Science) Version 25 software were used for the analysis. Qualitative data analysis followed steps of data reduction (selecting, focusing, simplifying, abstracting, transforming), data display (organizing, compressing), and conclusion drawing (Miles and Huberman, 1994). The findings were discussed through narrative and explanatory approaches then presented by using tables, figures, graphs, and charts.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Assessment on ecotourism potentials at Dhera Dilfekar block was made based on natural attractions, cultural and historical features; from the perspective of identifying conservation challenges hindering the management activity and to indorse possible mitigation strategies.

Ecotourism Potentials of Dhera dilfekar block
The dhera dilfekar block is home for a variety of mammals and bird species. A common mammal species inhabited in this conservation block are Greater Kudu, Lesser Kudu, Spotted Hyena, Warthog, Anubis Baboon and others as well as a variety of bird species like Cattle Egret, White Browed Sparrow, Ring Necked Dove, Ruppels Starling and others. The vegetation cover was dominated by different acacia species like Acacia albida, Acacia tortilis, Acacia Senegal and Balenites aegyptica.

.1. Main gate /entrance/of Dhera Dilfekar block
There are two park gates(entrance) for dhera dilfekar block ; through dilfekar & through Asphalt road from Adama to dhera Asella before you entered to the center of dhera town you will find park gate. The main gate of Dhera Dilfekar block was found on the main asphalt road from Adama to Asella. On the main gate there is tourist information center. When you entered to the park boundary you meet a guy inside tourist information center on the gate. Once you come to site at any time you have a great chance to see wild animal's especially large group of greater kudus.
On the other side near Dilfekar spiritual place, there is also another gate especially for tourists these back from Bale Mountains through Asella town. They can enter through this gate and can exit with the main gate that found on the asphalt road to the west direction from Adama to Asella main road.
There is car road and foot path which takes you to all direction of the park (to the east, west, north and south). Trekking is also possible on mount Dilfekar and Gara dima. The one who come with bicycle can also ride everywhere.

Natural attraction of this block
The major Core points of wildlife area were the following.
Dire   Hydrological features Since there is no natural river or spring water in dhera dilfekar block, six (6) water ponds were artificially constructed in the park at different places for the purpose of wildlife drinking water storage .Before this, most of the time wild animals move to find water outside the park boundary especially on asphalt road; at that time they were suddenly exposed to car accident but now due to this ponds these problems were partially solved.

Biological Resources 3.2.4.1. Wild Animals:
The Park is home for about 25 wild mammals dominated by Greater kudu, lesser kudu, spotted hyena and Warthog. The other mammals such as Golden backed jackal, Abyssinian hare, Leopard, Grivet monkey, Anubis baboon, Grey duiker, etc are also found in this block(Abdurrahman Kubssa, 1995). According to the report of the park warden and tourist information center this block is the only place where visitors could watch a herd of greater and lesser kudu in the country without spending a minutes.

. Bird Species
There are more than 189 birds among these; Helmeted Guinea fowl, little bee eater, Black wood hoopoe, Grey wood pecker, Grey headed sparrow, Shinning sun bird, Rupp ells long tailed starling, Red checked cordon blue, Speckled mouse bird, Ring necked dove, Black kite and Long crested eagle are the common species (Table 5).

.5. Historical and Cultural site
In addition to natural attraction, there are also cultural and historical heritage sites where the local communities undertaking spiritual activities.

Dilfekar Spiritual Place
It is found at the South gate of Dhera block about 300m far away from main road which goes to sire District to the north direction. It is a ritual/spiritual cultural site where "Muda" practiced and long aged with different size of entombment of local people with different artistic designed plate of wildlife habitat of the area. This burial may attract visitors because it has a beautiful artistic design with different type of picture. In this area like dire sheik Hussein muda was undertaken two times per a year (during Hajji and Zahra) hundreds of believers even come from faraway places for pilgrimage.

Ujune Baji Graveyard and His Historical Background (Source: Local elders &his relatives)
This grave was found in the dhera dilfekar block of Arsi mountains national park. It is about 1km far from the first main gate. This grave may attract visitors because it has a beautiful artistic design with different type of animal pictures such as Ape, elephant and others showing the availability of diversity of wildlife in the area. In addition there are also cultural materials such as Shield, Spear for the purpose of defending his opponent.
Ujune Baji was a popular hero man that was born in Oromia regional state Arsi zone, dodota woreda ,dilfekar kebele. This person was very prominent and well known in Oromo Arsi area during war on Oromo people. During that time he tries to defend his enemies in collaboration with his brothers, Burka, Kilo and other friends. He has very strong horse called "biyyo" that he was used to ride for purpose of defending the war. He named his horse ''biyyo''because during that time there is no enough food to eat and famine was so known. So, to survive peoples eat soil which means in Afaan oromoo "biyyoo". He is patriotic person who always stand for truth, to protect his country from enemy. In addition, Ujune Baji was a person who always refuses to give his hand to his opponents and enemies. During that time according to local elders told us "Ujune Baji''was a young person of 20 years old. He was born in 1867 E.C. He seriously struggles and won Menilik II war on oromo peoples especially in Arsi area. This person was a father of nine (9) children. He follows "wakeffata" religion. Finally he become sick and left this world during this war.

The Local Community
The people who settled around the park are ethnic group of Oromo-Arsi. They have their own unique dressing style ( Figure 6), wedding ceremony, local handicrafts, traditional foods, and time-honored ruling system of Abba Gada. Some of the known traditional foods are called "Chechebsa" and" Chuko" with traditional coffee ceremony. They are welcoming and friendly people and endowed with traditional way of living.

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Eco tourism potential of Arsi mountains National Park dhera dilfekar block is assessed based on natural attractions, cultural features, and tourism activities. The results of the research revealed some of ecotourism potentials of dhera dilfekar block like Dire kiltu hyena valley, Dire kiltu lesser kudu site , Dire kiltu greater kudu site , Fachiso greater kudu site , Gara dima hyena valley(1) , Awash bishola dhagaa taa'aa valley and Gara dima hyena valley (2) ( Table 2). Additionally the park can offer the visitor an opportunity to see lowland game species, a variety of bird species, Acacia dominated spectacular landscape, historical and Cultural sites, Cultural living style of the local community which makes this block unique feature to attract eco tourists. Furthermore, tourist facilities and services including camping sites, guiding services and hotels/lodges nearby found in Adama town which is the center of conference tourism and sodare resort hotel which is frequently visited by both domestic and foreign tourists contributed to an increase in tourist flow. Wild animals like Greater kudu, Lesser Kudu, Warthog, Hyena, Anubis baboon, are among common species in dhera dilfekar block. The park is also rich in Avifauna species (OFWE, 2010). Recommendations: Based up on the above conclusions the following recommendations were made.
To scale up wildlife tourism potentials of dhera dilfekar block, better promotion with practical conservation activities, community based tourism approaches and infrastructures should be implemented for tourist destination of dhera dilfekar bock.
On the other hand, anthropogenic pressures are identified as the main conservation challenges; hence the park requires immediate intervention. Awareness creation should be developed for the local communities and other stakeholders on the benefits of ecotourism and conservation of eco-attractions for sustainable management of ecotourism activities.
Finally it is better that offering tourist facilities and services and creating job opportunities for members of local communities have a positive impact on tourism activities by creating a sense of ownership on the local community.