SUSTAINABLE WETLAND RESOURCE UTILIZATION THROUGH ECO-TOURISM DEVELOPMENT FOR POVERTY REDUCTION: A CASE STUDY OF KINGWAL SWAMP, KENYA
Journal Title: European Journal of Business and Social Sciences - Year 2015, Vol 4, Issue 2
Abstract
Over the years, wetlands’ economic, social and ecological benefits have not been fully appreciated leading to their unsustainable use. As a result, wetlands are rapidly declining due to anthropogenic activities. This has further been complicated by high levels of poverty and rapidly increasing human population, more particularly in less developed countries. Using the case study of Kingwal swamp (a once extensive wetland and important breeding site for Sitatunga (Tragelaphus Spekei) that has been reduced to a narrow stretch of swamp), this paper evaluates the current utilization practices of the wetland resources and the wetland’s ecotourism potential that can bridge the links between environmental conservation and poverty reduction among its host communities. A significantly (χ²=156.03, df=1, p<0.05) higher majority (80%) of the community indicated that consumptive utilization practices such as brick making, clay harvesting, crop production and grazing were rampant, even though the income derived from them was low. Moreover, the existing swamp resource utilization practices had contributed to deterioration of the wetland’s natural resources and further decrease in its size. Consequently, Sitatunga (Tragelaphus Spekei) is under threat of extinction due to the loss and fragmentation of its habitat and a significant (χ2 = 44.01, df = 1, P<0.05) majority (65%) of the community lives in abject poverty. In spite of that Kingwal swamp was found to be not only an important biodiversity hotspot (with great diversity of flora, mammal and bird species) but also a customary circumcision site for the resident community with enormous cultural resources which are priceless tourist attractions invaluable for the development of ecotourism. The study recommends the development of a sustainable management plan which not only advocates for environmental education but acknowledges local community’s right to use the wetland through environmental-friendly and income generating enterprises such as ecotourism, fish farming, bee keeping, butterfly farming and tree seedling nurseries. Another initiative will be the development of bird watching platform, camp site and an arboretum which will provide an alternative source of income for adjacent communities, making them less dependent on the wetland’s resources.
Authors and Affiliations
Stephen Momanyi| Department of Human Resource, Tourism and Hospitality, Rongo University College, P.O. Box 103-40404, Rongo, Kenya. eMail: mycosteve@yahoo.com;, George Ariya| Department of Tourism and Tour Operations Management, University of Eldoret, P.O BOX 1125-30100, Eldoret-Kenya eMail: georgeariya@gmail.com
Keywords
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