Abstract:
Majority of Ethiopian are engaged in agricultural activities that contributed natural resources
degradations. Ecotourism is an alternative option while achieving the conservation goals of
protected areas. This study was conducted with the objective of identifying ecotourism
development opportunities as a tool for future environmental conservation and its implication to
community livelihoods in Sheka Biosphere Reserve using survey questionnaires, document
analysis and field observation. To that end, information was collected and analyzed from 120
household heads living around the Biosphere reserve using structured questionnaire. In addition,
focus group discussions and key informant interviews were used. Field observations were held
for recording ecotourism potentials using digital camera and GPS. The data collected by above
methods were analyzed using SPSS version 21.The findings revealed that, Sheka Biosphere
reserve is endowed with attractive landscape scenery, fauna and flora and indigenous culture of
the local community, which are the existing potentials for ecotourism development in the area,
whereas, the current status of ecotourism development is at lower stage as compared to its
potentials. Soil fertility reduction, market problems and lower stage of ecotourism activities were
the major socio- economic problems of the local community. Introducing ecotourism and
development of infrastructures are central strategic directions for sustainable management of the
Biosphere Reserve.
