Browsing by Author "Mulamula, Lilian Gasper"

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    The role of ecotourism in enhasing rural livelihoods and wildlife conservation; opprtunities challenges; the case of lake Eyasi basin
    (University of Dar es Salaam, 2011) Mulamula, Lilian Gasper
    Ecotourism, a growing sector of the tourism industry is debated as having potential for ecological, socio-economic and cultural benefits at local and national levels. This study investigated opportunities and challenges offered by ecotourism in improving rural livelihoods and wildlife conservation and implications of it on rural urban mobility. Questionnaire survey, focus group discussions, key informant interviews and direct field observation were used for data collection in the field. The study found that, majority of people perceives ecotourism as beneficial since it enhances livelihoods and provide social service support. Wildlife population in the Lake Eyasi basin is reported to be declining and facing threats through harvesting of water birds, deforestation, lower valuing by ,villagers hunting, rising in number of livestock, and encroachment of the Ngorongoro Marang wildlife corridor. The contribution of ecotourism towards wildlife conservation is minimal, realized mainly through environmental conservation education. Ecotourism opportunities in the area have no influence in pulling people into the study villages but in preventing rural-urban migrations. The ecotourism development is still very low and facing the challenges of poor benefit sharing system, poor road infrastructure, low quality of services, minimal valuing of the industry by the villagers, rise in population and lack of land rights. For development of the industry and contribution to socioeconomic development and wildlife conservation, the study recommends marketing of the industry, infrastructure improvements, enhancing the revenue collection and benefit sharing system, set standards for service provision, developing codes of conduct, sustainable livestock keeping, and establishing a conservation organization.