Review on Challenges and Opportunities of Protected Area Management in Ethiopia

Abstract

Protected areas are designated areas that are protected due to their ecological, cultural, or other values. It plays a vital role in biodiversity conservation. Ethiopia have more than 55 protected areas which cover 17.1% of the country, ranked third in African country next to Tanzania and Uganda, those are protected in order to gain benefits for livelihoods at local, regional and country level but the value obtained from the protected areas is very low when it is compared to other African countries like Kenya, Tanzania and South Africa. People out approach” protected area management to participatory protected area management, wildlife development, conservation and utilization proclamations, diversified floral and faunal species are major opportunities for PA management in Ethiopia. Even it has various opportunities in different part; the areas have been challenged largely by natural and human-induced constraints. The review revealed that grazing, expansion of farmland, cutting living tree, conflict, inadequate coordination among stakeholder are the major management problems of the PAs. Ecotourism use diverse nature, landscapes and biodiversity as major tourist attractions. Protected areas such as national parks are becoming major ecotourism sites.

Keywords: Protected Area, Ecotourism, Wildlife, Biodiversity, Ethiopia