The Opportunities and Challenges of Protected Areas and Eco-tourism Development in Ethiopia

Abstract

Protected areas are protected area mainly designed for the protection and conservation of natural, historical and associated cultural resource. Ethiopia is endowed with the vast array of ecotourism resources including cultural, historical and natural resources which are ideal for the development of sustainable ecotourism ventures. Ethiopia depends heavily on protected areas (PAs) for wildlife and forest conservation.  About 14% of the total land area of the country is covered by officially defined protected areas such as National park, wildlife sanctuary, wildlife reserve, and controlled hunting area, priority forest are and biosphere reserve. 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, Flora, Fauna, Ethiopia

DOI: 10.7176/JTHS/66-03

Publication date: January 31^st 2024