As we know here in Ethiopia, people who live in and around national parks are small-scale farmers. Before national parks where established, the local people use an area for different activities to fulfill their livelihoods including farming, grazing, collecting forest products, hunting and other natural resources. But after park establishment, access of local community to the area where removed an
d all activities have been became prohibited by law without providing any alternative means of income. Hence, the local communities trespass in a park to subsidize their livelihoods resulting in conflict with law enforcement group in parks management system. Because all activities in a park are technically illegal, there is no attempt at sustainable resource utilization with in the park. For example, over fishing; over grazing; over hunting, setting fire for hunting and grazing etc. These all cause for habitat degradation, wildlife death and emigration which leading to low wildlife population in the area even local extinction of species. In addition, due to habitat degradation, some wild animals leave a park area and encroach to settlement areas, which cause human wildlife conflict. The overall impacts of such conflicts are very severe affecting food security of the local community and the very existence of a park. National Parks in the country have its own law enforcement system. Therefore, a park office has been taking action on those who trespass park office bylaw and it causes for conflict between the local communities and the park authority. This conflict not only affects socio-economy and ecology of the area but also has been causing for human death. Sofar people died in different conservation areas of the country in both sides from local community and park staff. This tells something, which is very important; there must be immediate action to divert the situation and use the wildlife resource for sustainable development. Hence, it is very crucial and timely initiative to create alternative income generation activities in each conservation areas of the country for illegal activities control through community benefiting. It is because creation of alternative income source can link local community with park management system in win-win relation by reducing human pressure and develop sustainable park management system while improving the livelihoods of the local community. That is why I initiate this project idea to implement at Chebera Churchura National Park which is very high potential wildlife area but very problematic in its management. Chebera Churchura National Park (CCNP) is one of the national parks of Ethiopia, which is a critical area to conserve wildlife in the country. The park possessed numerous rivers, streams, and small creator lake like Keriballa, Shasho, Koka, which are reason for the rich wildlife resources of the area. So far, 37 larger mammals and 137 species of birds which some of them are endemic for Ethiopia, have been recorded in different habitats (Highland & Rverine forest and savanna and bush lands) of the park. In addition, the park comprises unique and attractive mountain closed forest, closed tall-grassed savannah habitat, thick woodland forest, a number of cold & hot springs, historical caves, as well fascinating landscapes which are highly rugged, undulating to rolling plains, a number of hilly & mountainous land covered by vegetation throughout the year and the best site to see African Elephants and Buffalo. These are some of the potentials of the park to use it as an engine for sustainable development through eco-tourism if it can be managed sustainably. However, because of anthropogenic effect and low level of management intervention the wildlife scenic values of the park decline radically like other national parks in the country. According to studies carried out on the park, there is conflict between local people and park authorities because of different interests on park resource utilization (Demeke Datiko and Afework Bekele, 2013; Dereje W/Yohannes, 2006; Meseret Ademasu, 2006). Sofar, there is high human encroachment to the park. As I stated above, like other national parks people who live in and around CCNP used the natural resource in the area differently to fulfill their livelihoods. But after the park establishment the area is closed to access for the local people without providing alternative source of income. This affects their livelihood significantly and pushes them to trespass the park although they know they are illegal and this cause conflict. In this satiation, I don’t think working on the threat of the park through negotiation or law enforcement can solve the problem as it is a matter of survival. Rather I strongly believe that the only way to conserve the wildlife resource in the area by solving the problem sustainably is working on the causes of the threat like poverty and lack of awareness of the local people how to use resources sustainably. To reduce poverty of the local people, they must be aware how to create different environmental friendly alternative income sources like beekeeping to improve their livelihood and all stakeholders of the park must support them technically and financially. It is because, when the livelihood of the local community improved, their pressures to the park became reduced. This is also the strategy of the government, poverty alleviation and wildlife conservation. To implement the project successfully; to solve these serious wildlife conservation problems and to see significant change in wildlife conservation of the area and food security of the local people; all stakeholders of the park have to cooperate and play their role. Hence, I develop this page to deliver information for stakeholders about the existing situation of the park and progress of the project as they should get enough information for their decision to support the project.
