Perception of Local Communities on the Environmental and Socio-economic Benefits and Management Systems of the Bale Mountains National Park, Ethiopia

Assessing the perception of local communities on the benefits and disbenefits of protected areas is crucial to ensure the sustainability of their multiple benefits to people’s livelihood. This study was conducted in Bale Mountains National Park (BMNP), Ethiopia to assess the perceptions of local communities on the benefits and benefit-sharing mechanisms as well as on the existing shared management of the park. Household surveys, key informant interviews, and focus group discussions were tools used to collect data. The results indicated that most local communities exhibited a negative attitude toward the management systems in place though local authorities claim that 60% of the benefits from the BMNP goes to the local communities. This could be attributed to the lack of communication among stakeholders and limited access to the tangible economic benefits at household level. In addition, the focus of existing benefit sharing mechanisms to only known community-based organizations and ecotourism associations, and lack of meaningful participation as well as unhealthy relationships between local communities and the management team could contribute to the development of negative attitudes. Further, the additional costs due to crop damage by wild animals and relocation costs due to the implementation of key strategic plans of the park could contribute to the negative attitudes. Improving the participation of local communities in managing natural resources in the park and local communities’ access to the economic benefits could help improve the engagement of local communities and consequently help reduce the observed negative attitudes. Compensation might help to reduce the additional costs incurred to local communities due to crop and livestock damages caused by wild animals. The park management should be transparent to the communities about the revenue of protected areas and engage them when establishing community-based organizations and ecotourism associations.