Abstract
A sustainable management of national park requires collaboration between park staff, NGOs, local organizations and stakeholders, and government intervention. This collaboration promotes community-based welfare and inspires a sense of responsibility, thus promoting more benefits than conflicts. A survey administered to residents surrounding Nyungwe National Park was used to evaluate the relationship between Nyungwe National Park management and local communities. The residents acknowledged a positive attitude towards participating in conservation organizations where there was involvement, while a negative response revealed weak community mobilization. The community’s opinions about protection and tourism progression noted weak conflict resolution, but a positive attitude towards tourism activities in the area since they believed employment was likely as a result. In addition, the residents asked for support from government investments and stakeholders to develop the local private sector, and asked to be involved during the planning process. Approaches including the design of coordination mechanisms and integrated conservation and developments projects are suggested to promote a management structure leading to community involvement in conservation and tourism activities. This will increase visitor numbers and contribute to economic development not only in the region but also in the whole country. Empirical studies along with the factors shaping tourism and conservation activities should be considered as the basis for sustainable decision and policy making for sustainable management, and will contribute to government, stakeholders and park manager collaborations at Nyungwe national park.
Highlights
A well-managed national park has a competent and appropriate strategy to preventing biodiversity loss and climate change, and improving local society while maintaining essential ecosystem functioning, on which humanity worldwide depends (He & Cliquet, 2020; Lopoukhine et al, 2012)
This paper examined the relationship between National Parks Management and local communities, and found a need for positive collaboration and more funding, as well as the implementation of local sectoral projects, which could help to motivate local communities to conserve and develop tourism in Nyungwe National Park
In order to improve a sustainable park management, it is desirable to progress conservation and tourism development based on advancing the socio-economic development and livelihoods of local communities
Summary
A well-managed national park has a competent and appropriate strategy to preventing biodiversity loss and climate change, and improving local society while maintaining essential ecosystem functioning, on which humanity worldwide depends (He & Cliquet, 2020; Lopoukhine et al, 2012). The aims of the protection policies should be decentralized to central institutions authority including conservation and tourism organizations. The WPC (World Park Congress) is the institution that has established plans, with goals including compensating local communities who lack access to protected areas. It provides benefits that would allow communities to profit economically, while avoiding environmental degradation. These must be functioned in four procedures: planning, controlling, organizing, and implementing at central and local levels (Worboys, Lockwood, Kothari, Feary, & Pulsford, 2015). The achievement of the purposes might intervene participatory approaches (Pimbert & Pretty, 1997), stakeholder approaches (Donaldson & Preston, 1995), community-based management (Jamal & Getz, 1995), and Integrated Conservation and Development Projects (ICDP) (Barrett & Arcese, 1995). These, will transform residents’ attitudes from nonparticipation to responsibility and shape an attitude of decision and ownership in tourism destinations (Dinham, 2005; Park, Zielinski, & Jeong, 2020)
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