Community-based Ecotourism As a Sustainabledevelopment Option: Case of the Taita Hills, Kenya

This book discusses the development of communityecotourism in south-eastern Kenya. The indigenousmountain rain forests of the Taita Hills are rich inbiodiversity, but severely degraded. Alternativelivelihoods are needed among the Taita people andcommunity ecotourism offers one potential source ofincome while reviving the fading cultural traditionsand indigenous knowledge about forest use. This casestudy combines anthropocentric and bio centricpremises to examine existing and potential resourcesand their hindrances. The arguments are couchedaround factors that are essential to the viability ofthe local ecosystems and communities. The nexus ofthese factors are then discussed within the contextof the external political, social and economic forcesimpacting upon the sustainable development of thearea. Using an ecotourism potentiality analysis, thecase study focuses upon three forest areas and onevillage. The book will be especially useful toprofessionals in nature conservation and tourismfields as well as for development agencies, NGOs,academic institutions and local and regional sitedevelopers.