CONSERVATION PRACTICES, COMMUNITY BASED ECOTOURISM POTENTIALS AND CHALLENGES OF CHEBERA CHURCHURA NATIONAL PARK, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

In the world of persistent poverty, increasing resource use and climate change, conservation challenges seem overwhelming. The main purpose of this study is to assess Chebera Churchura National park Community Based Ecotourism Potentials, conservation practices and challenges. In this paper we used empirical evidences collected from Chebera Churchura National park as case study. The potentials of the park for Community based ecotourism were assessed by modified Ecotourism Opportunity Spectrum model. Beyond its conservation objectives and potential for Ecotourism, its conservation practices were mired by human wild life conflict, insignificant contribution to livelihood diversification, growing interest of exploiting the minerals discovered, low current market potentials, and prioritizing wild life protection instead of the community. Indeed, the potential of the park should be utilized and promoted as a strategy to alleviate poverty, diversify livelihood and safeguard biodiversity.