AN ASSESSMENT OF SOCIO-ECONOMIC LINKAGES BETWEEN PROTECTED AREAS AND ECO-TOURISM PERFORMANCE IN KARURA FOREST, KENYA

Abstract

Eco-tourism performance with socio-economic impact by local community in peri-urban Protected areas (PAs) presents policy challenges on management and administration. Presently PAs are affected by demographic pressure emanating from extraction leading to degradation of fauna, flora and favourable attraction sites which are vital for eco-tourism. The main objective of this study was to assess socio-economic linkages between PAs and eco-tourism performance in Karura forest, Kenya. The specific objectives identified factors that determine the eco-tourism performance within specific sites; determined biodiversity components that influence high tourism attraction; examined socio-economic characteristics that affects the sustainable eco-tourism development and documented policies and legislations that guided PAs management plans to enhance eco-tourism performance. Transected 1000 meters in five administrative beats of the forest and along transect demarcated sampled areas of 50m by 500m of plot size 25m by 25m. Questionnaire was administered to Karura forest staffs and CFAs members whereby 10%- 20% threshold sampling intensity for primary data collection was applied. The data were analyzed using Excel Spread Sheet, SPSS, two way ANOVA model and econometric function. Chi-square statistics was used to tests goodness of fit of the study. Species diversity for F distribution of 5% with 1.726 and critical value of 2.52 indicated that the biodiversity component influenced high tourism potential. Whereas ceteris paribus in econometric analysis showed that one variable had a causal effect on another variable, the findings confirmed the critical impacts of local communities‟ dependence on forest resources with socio-economic characteristics variables critical values of χ2 distribution of P (χ2 ≥ 5.99) = 0.05 and P (χ2 ≥ 3.841) = 0.05 of 0.025 <P < 0.05. PAs was found to be compatible with eco-tourism as a result of positive correlationship between tourist attraction and variability of species diversity and important sites visited. However there existed significant positive and strong linear relationship between the foot paths R2 (0.265) and most of the major disturbances recorded R2 (0.184). This inferred that adjacent local communities participated in illegal activities and contributed to deterioration of natural resources in the forest potential for eco-tourism. The study therefore recommended improvement of forest landscape, Security and infrastructures to enhance eco-tourism performance within specific sites in Karura Forest; embrace PFM to ensure ownership and suitability in forest conservation and management and improve socio-economic characteristics benefits to sustain eco-tourism development and to sensitize local community on policies and legislations that guide development of PAs management plan and addresses factors that favour eco-tourism performance. The study further recommended research to determine eco-tourism cost-benefit analysis of forest for development of an effective strategy of preservation of natural and cultural resources that will promote economic benefits to local communities