1. MASS TOURISM AND HUMAN SETTLEMENTS IN PROTECTED
AREAS (CASE STUDY OF SIMIEN MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK,
ETHIOPIA)
AUTHOR: AYSHESHIM TIRUNEH
MENTOR: ASTRID RÖSSLER (PHD)
SUBMITTED ON: APRIL 12, 2010
KLESSHEIM, APRIL 2010

2. Abstract I
Abstract
Aysheshim, Tiruneh. (2010). Mass Tourism and Human Settlements in Protected Areas (a
case study in Simien Mountain National Park, Ethiopia)
Key Words: Protected Areas, National Park, Settlement, Mass Tourism, Sustainability, and
Bio-diversity.
Mass tourism and human settlement have tremendous negative effect on Simien Mountain
National Park. This study presents the current situation of settlement and population
growth in the mountain and its effect to the biodiversity aside from analysing the rapid
growth of tourism and its effect on the sustainability. The effects of mass tourism and
human settlement in the area have been studied since decades ago. Accordingly, secondary
resources like Books, a lot of theses, international environmental organizations report
about protected areas and regional office documents are used for the study. Unlike human
settlement, mass tourism in the area is a current and rapped phenomenon. Mass tourism
and human settlement contributed a lot to make the park one of the endangered heritages in
the world.

3. Table of contents II
Table of contents
Abstract ............................................................................................................ I
Table of contents...............................................................................................II
Table of figures ................................................................................................ IV
Preface............................................................................................................. V
1. The Problem and Its Background................................................................... 1
1.1 Introduction ............................................................................................ 1
1.2 Study Area .............................................................................................. 2
1.3 Statement of the problem ......................................................................... 2
1.4 Objectives of the study ............................................................................. 2
1.5 Research Question ................................................................................... 3
1.6 Significance of the Study........................................................................... 3
1.7 Scope and Limitations of the Study ............................................................ 3
1.8 Definition of Key Terms............................................................................. 4
2. Methodology............................................................................................... 6
2.1 Research Design ...................................................................................... 6
2.2 The Research Instruments......................................................................... 6
3. Related Literature........................................................................................ 7
3.1 Protected Areas ....................................................................................... 7
3.1.1 Global Overviews ..................................................................................... 7
3.1.2 Problems in African Protected Areas ........................................................... 8
3.1.3 Protected Areas in Ethiopia........................................................................ 8
3.2 What is National Park? ............................................................................ 10
3.2.1 Tourism and National Parks ..................................................................... 11
3.2.2 National parks in Ethiopia........................................................................ 11
3.2.3 Overview of Tourism Development in SMNP............................................... 12
3.2.4 Tourism Development Treats to SMNP ...................................................... 14
3.3 Settlements and National Parks ............................................................... 15

4. Table of contents III
3.3.1 Settlements in SMNP .............................................................................. 16
3.3.2 The effect of settlement to Tourism .......................................................... 17
3.3.3 The effect of settlement to biodiversity ..................................................... 18
4. Conclusion and Recommendation ................................................................ 19
4.1 Conclusions ........................................................................................... 19
4.2 Recommendations.................................................................................. 20
4.2.1 Recommendations to Amhara Tourism Board (Government) ........................ 20
4.2.2 Recommendations to Tourists .................................................................. 21
Annex ............................................................................................................ 23
Bibliography.................................................................................................... 27

5. Table of figures IV
Table of figures
Fig. 1 Number of tourist/visitors flow to SMNP..................................................... 13
Fig. 2 Farming in Simien Mountain National Park ................................................. 15
Fig. 3. Human Population Growth Trend in & around SMNP ................................... 17
Fig. 5, Threatened species, 2002-03 .................................................................. 18

6. Preface V
Preface
This study is significant to understand the problems met by Simien Mountain National
Park especially, related with Human Settlements and Mass Tourism. I have been
auspicious to visit the park more than five times which made me to think about the
problems in and around the area.
It has been my pleasure to conduct this study on the topic, Human Settlements and Mass
Tourism on Protected Areas (a case study on SMNP, Ethiopia). The study is based up on
secondary resource. I have been fortunate enough to be surrounded by a lot of people to
finish my study. In this section, I will thank them.
I would like to send my sincere gratitude to my leading supervisor Dr. ASTRID
RÖSSLER. With out her advice and unique support this study would never become
reality. Further, I would like to thank Dr. Endulkachew Teshome, University Professor in
Ethiopia, for giving me invaluable information about the topic.
I would like also to thank Mr. Bamlaku for passing information from the University of
Gondar, Ethiopia and for reading my study for comment.
Finally, I would like to express my greatest thanks to my family, friends and colleagues
who have supported me, especially for my girl friend Fasika Zerfu for her patience to let
me learn abroad.

7. The Problem and Its Background 1
1. The Problem and Its Background
1.1 Introduction
“Centuries go; massive volcanic eruptions covered Ethiopia with a thick layer of volcanic
rocks. In some areas of North Ethiopia highlands, this layer is claimed to be 3000m thick.
Then came water, and through extensive erosion processes carved dramatic cliffs and deep
ravines in the rock, leaving majestic jagged landscape where the Simien mountain national
park is located” (Abebe, E. 2000)
According to Nievergelt, et.al, (1996) some 2,500 Amhara1 people lived in the area, where
the people around are very poor but the conditions favour agriculture. On nomination 53-
80% of the Park was said to have been grazed or farmed.
Before the unrest2, there were 100-200 international visitors annually and access routes and
facilities were poor. From 1983 to 1999 the region was barred to visitors by war. Tourist
numbers increased from 655 in 1999 to 1,000 in 2000 and about 7,000 in 2007 according
to Martin, 2008. Construction of new park infrastructure including the Debark visitor
centre, entrance gate camp, outpost camps, and visitor facilities at campsites was funded by
the Austrian-funded Integrated Development Project3 (Nievergelt, 1996). By 2006 a high
quality 60-bed private tourist lodge had been built at Buyit Ras4 just outside the Park
(Debonnet et al, 2006). All the facilities result in mass tourism and the number of visitors
increased to 11,000 in 2008 (Amhara Regional Tourism Office Annual Report, 2009).
In 1996, the Simien Mountain National Park (SMNP) was inscribed on the List of World
Heritage in Danger (www.unesco.org). This paper will recommend solutions for the
problem related with settlements and mass tourism (current phenomenon) in the park.
1
Amhara people are one of the ethnic groups those who lives in the northern part of Ethiopia (African Affairs, Volume 109)
2
The political unrest during Ethio - Eritrea war as SMNP is located in the border (Conflict Profile, University of
Massachusetts Amhrest, Page 2).
3
It is the project funded by Austrian Development Cooperation for the sustainability of the mountain (Amhara regional
tourism office)
4
Buyit Ras is the name of the village and is the gate of the park (Amhara regional tourism office)

8. The Problem and Its Background 2
1.2 Study Area
The Simien Mountain National Park is located in Amhara National Regional State, North
Gondar Zone, 850 kms North of Addis Ababa. SMNP is known for its rich biodiversity
where unique botanical and zoological combination of species have been able of resist
human interface because of the extreme topography and altitude range. It is a place where
the highest mountain in Ethiopia, Ras Dashen, with an altitude of 4620 meters above sea
level is located. Among the species that are fond in the area that worth mentioning the
Walyia Ibex (Copra ibex Walie), the simien Fox (Canis Simensis ) endemic to Ethiopia,
Gelada Baboon (Theropithecus Gelada), bird species like White Colored Pigeon
(Columbia Albitorques), Abyssinian Long- Claw (Macronyx Flavicollis) and Abyssinian
Cat Bird (Parophasma Galiner). More than 170 bird species also live in the park of which
four are endemic to Ethiopia. There are also more than 70 species of butterfly and more
than 27 species of aquatic invertebrates living in the park. (Hurni, 1986; Nievergelt et al.,
1998; Endalkachew, 1999, Bekabil F., Anmuet B., 2003)
1.3 Statement of the problem
The main problem of the this study is to determine the problems met by Simien Mountain
National Park related with settlement and mass tourism in the area. Specifically it attempts
to answer the following questions
• What are the problems met by SMNP in relation with settlement and mass tourism?
• What is the effect of settlement and mass tourism in biodiversity of the mountain?
• What has been done so far and what has to be done for the sustainability of the
mountain?
1.4 Objectives of the study
The main purpose of this study is to identify the problems related with settlement and mass
tourism in SMNP. Specifically it attempts to deal with the following objectives
• Identifying the current situation of settlement and population growth in the
mountain and its effect to the biodiversity

9. The Problem and Its Background 3
• Analysing the rapid tourism development in the mountain and its effect to the
sustainability
• Identifying the influence of settlement and mass tourism to the sustainability of
tourism activities in the area.
• To let know the concerned body about the situation of the park.
1.5 Research Question
What are the effects of Human Settlements and Mass Tourism in Simien Mountain
National Park?
1.6 Significance of the Study
This study has the following important significances
• Solving the problem of SMNP related with human settlement and mass tourism
• Recommending the government for further reaction against the problem
• Creating awareness for the local community who lives in and around the mountain
• Giving directions to make the tourism activity in the area environmental friendly.
• Enriching research instruments and resources for the fellow researchers in the area.
1.7 Scope and Limitations of the Study
This study is limited to the problems met by Simien Mountain National Park in relation
with settlements and mass tourism. It involves analysis of the secondary data made by
different researchers, scientific journals and documents from different environmental
friendly organisations.
This study focuses attention only in Simien Mountain National Park in relation with
settlements i.e. the local people living in and around and mass tourism in the park. Finding
of the study would be therefore true only for the subjects concerned.

10. The Problem and Its Background 4
1.8 Definition of Key Terms
Settlements; A settlement is a general term used in archaeology, landscape history and
other subjects for a permanent or temporary community in which people live, without
being specific as to size, population or importance. ..(United Nation Human Settlement
Program, 2003)
Mass Tourism: mass tourism is the transport of large numbers of people in a short space of
time to places of leisure interest, so that greater numbers of people could begin to enjoy the
benefits of leisure time. (Wikipedia; Tourism)
Protected Areas: These are areas considered to be of national interest, classified in the
categories of “national park”, “nature reserve”, “natural park” (Nigel Dudley, Adrian
Phillips, 2006)
IUCN: the International Union for Conservation of Nature helps the world find pragmatic
solutions to our most pressing environment and development challenges.
CBD: The Convention on Biological Diversity was inspired by the world community's
growing commitment to sustainable development. It represents a dramatic step forward in
the conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use of its components, and the fair
and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of genetic resources. (www.cbd.int)
UNWTO: The World Tourism Organization, based in Madrid, Spain, is a United Nations
agency dealing with questions relating to tourism. (www.wto.org)
UNEP-WCWC: The UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre is a collaboration
between the United Nations Environment Programme, the world's foremost
intergovernmental environmental organization, and WCMC 2000, a UK-based charity.
(www.unep-wcwc.org)
Biodiversity: The relative abundance and variety of plant and animal species and
ecosystems within particular habitats. (Dorothy Hinshaw Patent, William Muñoz, 2003).
Sustainability: Sustainability means meeting the needs of present generation with out
compromising ability of future generations to meet their own needs. As the sustainable
assessment of the University of Michigan in 2002, sustainability has three spheres i.e.

11. The Problem and Its Background 5
economic (focus on economic growth, research and development, long term profit), social
(focus on standard of living, education, community development, and equal opportunity),
environmental (focus on natural and human made resources, energy utilization, pollution
and prevention).
Heritage site: There are a number of heritage registers around the world, which keep lists
of natural or man-made objects deemed to be of heritage value. (wikipedia.org/Heritage).
Eco-tourism: “is environmentally responsible travel and visitation to relatively undisturbed
natural areas, in order to enjoy and appreciate nature (and any accompanying cultural
features, both past and present) that promotes conservation, has low negative visitor
impact, and provides for beneficially active socio-economic involvement of local
populations.” (IUCN now called the World Conservation Union)

12. Methodology 6
2. Methodology
2.1 Research Design
The researcher has chosen a case study design for conducting this study. It is because to
analysis this topic with respect to the global situation of protected areas. But the design is
highly limited with the scope of the study.
2.2 The Research Instruments
The investigator used secondary sources to analysis the topic such as books, magazines,
office reports, published and unpublished research papers, thesis and dissertations in
various topics related with Simien Mountain National Park. The latest information
referred from the above sources is in the year of 2009.

13. Related Literature 7
3. Related Literature
3.1 Protected Areas
The World Conservation Union (IUCN) defines a protected area as an area of land and/or
sea especially dedicated to the safety and preservation of biological diversity and of natural
and associated cultural resources, and managed through legal or other effective means.
Effective means might include the respective local people formal dedication to preserve the
area.
“The Convention on Biological Diversity (1992) describes a protected area as a
geographically defined area which is designated of regulated and managed to achieve
specific conservation objective.” (Nigel, D. et. al, 2005)
3.1.1 Global Overviews
Today there are more than 100,000 designated protected areas in the World Database on
Protected Areas covering around 11.4 percent of Earth’s land surface along with more than
1,300 marine protected areas covering less than 0.5 percent of the oceans. They exist in
nearly every country. The majority of protected areas were identified and gazetted (i.e.
formally created) during the 20th century, in what is one of the largest conscious land use
change in history (Nigel, D. et. al, 2005).
The World Convention Union (IUCN) subdivides protected areas into six categories based
on management objectives as: I: Strict nature reserve/wilderness protection area II:
National parks III: Natural monuments IV: Habitat or species management area
V: Protected landscape/seascape VI: Managed resource protected area. The researcher will
focus on one of the above categories that is National Park on this study. And national parks
are the dominant categories of protected areas.
In terms of administration types, protected areas may be managed directly by government,
co-managed with other actors such as non-governmental organizations which is local and
international, or even declared and managed collectively by indigenous people and local
communities, or by the relevant individual or corporate land owner. (Nigel, D., 2005).

14. Related Literature 8
The National Park which this study focuses on is managed by directly by government and
co-managed with some local and international non-governmental organizations. But the
local people participation in terms of preservation for the park is very insignificant (Hurni,
2000).
3.1.2 Problems in African Protected Areas
In Africa, the major problem facing protected areas today is the increase in human
settlement of adjacent lands and the unauthorized harvesting of resources within the
protected areas (Newmark, et al., 1993, Mesele, Y. 2006). The human settlement has
increased continuously in and around the SMNP (see fig ). This high number of human
settlement has its own impact on the biodiversity and tourism development indirectly.
As the number of human settlement increases, encroachment also increases. Then the
extent of resource exploitation increases. This can easily be observed by increase in
livestock grazing in the park and intensive agricultural practice. (Mesele,Y. 2006)
3.1.3 Protected Areas in Ethiopia
Falling under the NRCDMD (Natural Resources Conservation and Development Main
Department) is the Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Organisation (EWCO), which is
directly responsible for the establishment, administration and management of national
parks, sanctuaries, wildlife reserves and controlled hunting areas. There are a number of
national and international non-governmental organisations involved in the conservation,
management and development of protected areas in Ethiopia. Protected areas in Ethiopia
have a huge amount of resource to be preserved for the next generation and for the
environmental protection at large.
Resources have been directed to the development of national parks and sanctuaries, which,
in practice, are treated almost equally, since sanctuaries are set up to conserve threatened
wildlife and the production of harvestable animals is not permitted. While still more or less
recognized, wildlife reserves and controlled hunting areas exist on paper only. Some
national parks and sanctuaries are getting worth and worth. Gambella National Park has
virtually ceased to exist as a conservation area, Yabello Sanctuary has been taken over for
a livestock project, and Bale Mountains National Park has suffered from uncoordinated
development in and around its boundaries. Further more, Simien Mountains National Park

15. Related Literature 9
is listed as threatened by the IUCN Commission on National Parks and Protected Areas.
(UNEP-WCMC, World database in protected areas). The researcher will analysis the main
problems related with Simien Mountain National Park in this study.
3.1.3.1 Bio diversity and protected Areas in Ethiopia
According to IUCN 3,036,000 ha is protected for national parks, nature reserve and
wilderness areas from the total land area of 110,430,000 ha in Ethiopia. This protected area
is a refuge for higher plants, mammals, breeding birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fishes. As
the researcher finds out, the number of known species and endemic to Ethiopia are
stipulated by the following diagram.
Higher plants
4%
Mamals
4%
Breeding birds
3% Reptiles
88% 1%
0%
Amhipians
Fish
Fig. 6, Biodiversity in Protected areas in Ethiopia
Sourse, Earth Trend Country Profile
3.1.3.2 List of Protected Areas in Ethiopia
According to the World Database on Protected Areas Ethiopia has the following protected
areas stipulated in the table below:
National Parks Wildlife Reserves Sanctuaries
Abijatta-Shalla Lakes Alledeghi Babile Elephant
Awash Awash West Kuni-Muktar Mount Nyala

16. Related Literature 10
Bale Mountains Bale Senkelle Swayne's Hartebeest
Gambella Chelbi Yabello
Mago Mille-Sardo
Nechisar Gewane
Omo Shire Tama
Simien Mountains
Yangudi Rassa
Fig, 1 List of Protected Areas in Ethiopia
Source 1 World Database on Protected Areas
3.2 What is National Park?
The Victorian legislation defines a national park as:
“Certain Crown Land characterised by its predominantly unspoilt landscape and its
flora, fauna and other features, that should be reserved and preserved and protected
permanently for the benefit of the public” (parks Victoria, education kit, p5)
In 1971 the IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural
Resources) declared a national park to be:
• A minimum size of 1,000 hectares within zones in which protection of nature takes
precedence
• Statutory legal protection
• A budget and staff sufficient to provide sufficient effective protection
• Prohibition of exploitation of natural resources (including the development of
dams) qualified by such activities as sport, fishing, the need for management,
facilities, etc. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_park#Definition)

17. Related Literature 11
As the researcher finds out many organizations share the concept of IUCN for National
Parks description as stipulated above.
3.2.1 Tourism and National Parks
National parks around the world are increasingly attracting visitors to experience spick and
span and unique natural environments. While an increase in national parks tourism
provides business opportunities both in the park and in adjacent communities, there are
several economic, social and ecological aspects that need to be monitored in order to
sustain high quality visitor experience. Increasing visitation may cause negative impacts on
the environment, conflict between different user groups or with in groups (Peter, F. 2005).
Tourism that does not degrade natural and cultural environment of the national park
provides economic, environmental, and social benefits to the local communities and the
countries at large and offers a high quality experience for the visitors. But there are dangers
in promoting national parks for ecotourism, especially if there is no strategic focus on the
type and intensity of activities to be promoted, the benefits and the beneficiaries, control,
and regulations. Some of the major environmental impacts in many national parks around
the world including Simien Mountain National Park with direct implications for local
communities and the biodiversity in and around include overcrowding, noise pollution,
extraction of valuable resources (collection of firewood and rare plant specimens), pack
stock grazing, fire hazards, etc.
3.2.2 National parks in Ethiopia
Ethiopia is home to several national parks. National parks are generally understood to be
administered by national governments (hence the name), in Ethiopia national parks are run
by Governments and some by UNESCO (Hurni, 2000).
Ethiopia has been very forward-looking in its provision of national park areas and there are
at present a dozen regions within the country that have been designated as national parks.
(Philip, B. 2005). In the following picture national parks and their respective size is listed

18. Related Literature 12
NO Name Size (KM2) Location
1 Semien Mountains National Park 220 Amhara Region
2 Abijatta-Shalla National Park 887 Oromia Region
3 Awash National Park 225 Afar Region
4 Gambela National Park 5061 Gambela Region,
5 Bale Mountains National Park 2,200 Oromia Region
6 Mago National Park 782 SNNP Region
7 Yangudi Rassa National Park 4730 Afar Region
8 Omo National Park 4,068 SNNP Region
9 Nechisar National Park 514 SNNP Region
Table 1, List of National parks in Ethiopia
Source, Amhara Regional Tourist Office
3.2.3 Overview of Tourism Development in SMNP
The Amhara Region, and northern part of Ethiopia in general, have very high tourism
potential, not the least because of the two cultural World Heritage properties with in
Amhara Region, Gondar and Lalibela, and SMNP, at present the only national park in the
region, as well as a third cultural property, Aksum, in the neighbouring region of Tigre
(Regional Tourism Office Annual Report, 2007).
The Simien Mountain National Park is endowed with endemic organism and unique
landscape. Both these aesthetic values attract domestic and international visitors.
According to UNESCO, since the creation of the national park up to 1977 over 500 visitors
were recorded per annum. After 1977 there was decreasing number of visitors until the
beginning of the 1990s. Recent study by Martin, 2008, shows as tourist numbers increased

19. Related Literature 13
from 655 in 1999 to 1,000 in 2000 and about 7,000 in 2007. The regional tourism office
annual report shows as number of tourists increase to 12,000 in 2009.
According to the park office report in 2008, the numbers of tourist are getting increased
every year. And there was a small number of tourist flows in the year during 1997 to 2000.
During these years the country was in war with Eritrea where the national park borders
with. The detail number of tourist to the park during 1991 to 2009 is stipulated in the
following diagram:
12000
10000
8000
6000
4000
2000
0
1991/2 1994/5 1997/8 2000/1 2003/4 2006/7
Fig. 1 Number of tourist/visitors flow to SMNP
Source, Simien Mountain National Park Tourism Office
Construction of new park infrastructure including the Debark visitor centre, entrance gate
camp, outpost camps, and visitor facilities at campsites was funded by the Austrian-funded
Integrated Development Project (IDP). The visitor centre has an information desk, entrance
fee office, conference hall, park warden and staff offices, a library/museum (not yet
functional), and souvenir shop, cafeteria and guide association office. Guides, porters and
cooks are now provided by private concessionaires. The entrance gate at Sawre camp will
have an information desk, office and four solar-powered scout houses; the Sankaber and
Chennek camps have basic camping facilities such as toilets, springs, showers, recreation
huts and recreation benches. The usual method of travelling is on mule back with hired
guides. A 4WD road built to the Park from Debark has caused erosion and increased local
traffic as well as tourist development (Nievergelt, 1996). By 2006 a high quality 60-bed

20. Related Literature 14
private tourist lodge had been built at Buyit Ras just outside the Park (Debonnet et al,
2006).
The beauty of the nature (fauna and flora), facilities in and around the park boosts the
number of tourists flow in to the park year by year (page 13, fig 1). The park in the
summer season is very green and crowded with tourists which create seasonal mass
tourism in the park.
3.2.4 Tourism Development Threats to SMNP
In Simien Mountain National Park, Tourism is highly depending on landscapes, floras and
faunas. According to Hürni, 1986, several animals might become locally extinct even if
the Park were fully protected: the carnivores, leopard and Simien wolf, and larger
ungulates of the lower Afro Montana areas.
A further risk for tourism development is the increasing human settlement in and around
the national park5 which is impossible to control the immigrants since the zoning6 of the
park is too loos. Tough the park is belong to UNESCO and announced as settlement is
forbidden, the people living around do not respect the regulation and they keep settling in
the park since it has good fertile land for agriculture and good grass for their cattle’s.
Hunting is also another risk which is practiced by the local people for their daily food even
though it is banned to do so by UNESCO in 1978. (Amhara regional tourism office report,
2006)
The road from Debark has aggravated erosion and ecological damage and made access
easier for the increasing numbers of peasant farmers (Nievergelt et al., 1998; Beltran,
2000, UNESCO). The population and its livestock within the Park are still expanding by
5
The detail about settlements is found in page 14 under human settlement in SMNP
6
Zoning has been practiced but the local people do not have any awareness about sustainability so whenever
they feel as they will have a good agricultural product, they use it with out respecting the zonings set by
UNESCO. (UNESCO annual report 2006)

21. Related Literature 15
2% per year (Beltran, 2000, UNESCO). The following picture depicts the agricultural
practice by the local people in side the park.
Fig. 2 Farming in Simien Mountain National Park
Source, Get image site
A large number of tourists flowing to the park in the same season are another sensitive
threat to the lives of biodiversity and the tourism development indirectly. An increase in
mass tourism that is not controlled responsibly can ruin areas of natural beauty. Mass
Tourism can damage flora and fauna, destroy the habitats of wildlife as roads and hotels
are built for tourist facilities, frustrate the life cycle of the biodiversity in the protected
areas, and etc. Ironically, damage to these natural resources is likely to reduce future
numbers of visitors. Aside from the above listed major threats to the tourism development
in the park, the researcher finds out the following minor threat to tourism development
according to the annual report of the Tourist office in Gondar;
• Budget constraint for conservation process
• Unskilled guides working in the park that does not have an idea how to react
against some wild animals, does not know the tourist walk ways to see the
animals.
• Employees turn over(especially, Managers of the park)
3.3 Settlements and National Parks
Human settlements have physical, environmental, political, social and cultural elements.
According to the UN, these can be divided into “(a) physical components of shelter and

22. Related Literature 16
infrastructure; and (b) service to which the physical elements provide support, that is to
say, community services such as education, health, culture, welfare, recreation and
nutrition.” In addition, each human settlement exists in a unique environment that affects
life in the community and is affected by that community” (Teton County Model UN,
2009).
According to Teton County Model UN, the researcher understands that the human
settlement in a unique environment like national parks affect the natural resources in and
around; and the benefits which might come from the resources.
3.3.1 Settlements in SMNP
The population in the park area is estimated to double every 20-35 years. The annual
growth rate during 1964-1975 was estimated at 2.6%, while the estimate for the period
1975-1994 was 1.6% (Huni and Ludi, 2000). However the present growth rate is estimated
to be about 2%. The increase in population during the last 12 years (1994-2006) for some
Kebele 7 Associations or Villages is shown in the table below:
Woreda Kebele/village Population
1994 2006 Difference Percentage
increase
Adi Arkay Agdamia 2308 2800 492 21
Angukemeja 5060 5560 440 9
Janamora Lori 3820 5425 1605 42
Debark Adebabay 4500 6728 2228 50
7
A word to describe the village governmental originations (Hurni, 2000)

23. Related Literature 17
Abergina 3850 4250 400 10
Arginjona 4000 6279 2279 57
Adisgie- 2341 8958 6617 283
Miligebsa
Gich 1084 1672 588 54
Fig. 3. Human Population Growth Trend in & around SMNP
Source; Management plan of Semien Mountain National Park; 2006
At present the population living with in and around the park are estimated to be 88,083 out
of which 3,282 resides with in the park territory, while the remaining 84,801 lives on the
periphery of the park with in 17 Kebele Association’s (KAs) bordering the park.
3.3.2 The effect of settlement to Tourism
According to Hürni, 1980, Ethiopia's highlands are among the most densely populated
agricultural areas in Africa, and wildlife habitats and populations in the Park have been
fragmented by extensive developments as:
• Road construction,
• Widespread deforestation and grass burning,
• Agriculture,
• Firewood collecting,
• Hunting and domestic livestock grazing.
All the above listed frustrating actions are directly related with the people living in and
around the park and they have a direct and indirect impact on tourism development. As the
number of inhabitants are increasing dramatically (stipulated on page 16, fig. 3) their need
which is highly depend on flora and fauna, and biodiversities is also increasing. Tourism
activities in the park are built up on the natural attraction but because of the population in
and around the park these resources are losing their natural beauty which has a negative

24. Related Literature 18
impact on tourism development. As a result, since the tourism development is highly
depending on the natural resource in the park, the resources should be maintained as much
as possible otherwise the expected benefit from the tourism industry will be unrealistic.
3.3.3 The effect of settlement to biodiversity
Extensive areas both within and outside SMNP are almost devoid of native woody
vegetation. The degradation and its ecological impacts have forced both the walia ibex and
Ethiopian wolf to vacate some of their original ranges and to move further up in to the less
disturbed highlands (IUCN Mission Report, 2006).
According to the Earth trend country profile the following species are highly threatened in
Simien Mountain National Park.
30%
2%
Mamals
Breeding Birds
4%
Reptiles
Amphibians
66% 2%
Fig. 4, Threatened species, 2002-03
Source, Earth Trends Country Profile
The different activities of humans have its own impact on wildlife by modifying the
behaviour of animals and species distribution. The disruption of behavioural pattern can
affect their social structure because social structure is the key component in the evaluation
of and dynamics of species. Thus, its disruption by human disturbance can have a
considerable effect on population performance even if the disturbance does not directly
affect the survival (Manor, Saltz, 2003, Melese, Y. 2006)

25. Conclusion and Recommendation 19
4. Conclusion and Recommendation
4.1 Conclusions
All protected areas around the world are some how facing different kinds of challenges.
The main challenges for African protected areas are disturbance of habitats and ecosystem
by human settlement, cultivation, deforestation and fire. Mass tourism is also the current
phenomenon that threatened the protected areas.
Tourism in Simien Mountain National Park is rapidly increasing. Even though its
contribution for the national economy is very significant, its sustainability is under
question. Disturbance of habitats and ecosystem, cultural commercialization with the local
communities and illegal hunting are the major effects of mass tourism practiced in SMNP.
The park management is planning for more tourism development in the area with less
consideration to its effect in the future.
Human settlement in Simien Mountain National Parks becomes less difficult with some
infrastructural developments in and around the park. Large numbers of people live in
and close to the SMNP. At the same time more number of livestock is observed
grazing inside the park in addition to the increase in the size of farmlands inside the
park. Farmers expand these farmlands by clearing the nearby vegetation leading to
further degradation. The National Park is the place where the local communities can have
free agricultural and grazing land for their cattle which result in great negative impact on
the biodiversity. The number of human settlement in and around the park is rapidly
increasing because of the favourable conditions of the park for the agriculture and grazing.
The impact of human settlement is not end with the disturbance of the biodiversity; it has
also incalculable effect in the tourism industry.
In general, mass tourism and human settlement in SMNP are getting increased and they
took the lion share to make the park one of the endangered world heritage site.

26. Conclusion and Recommendation 20
4.2 Recommendations
The researcher found out that mass tourism and human settlement in Simien Mountain
National Park have negative impact on sustainability of the area. As challenges always
come with their solutions; the researcher recommends the following points for the
government who owns the national park and the tourists who are visiting.
4.2.1 Recommendations to Amhara Tourism Board (Government)
A mechanism should be taken which can sustain the biodiversity and the tourism activity
in the area. As a result, the following recommendations should be considered for
sustainable issues:
• The government should transfer those people living in and very close to the park to
the area that is comparable in climate and other necessary conditions should be met.
• The government should develop a rule to stop the immigration of people to the park
looking for fertile land for their agricultural activity.
• The park authority and NGOs cooperatively should work hard to increase
awareness of the local people about the importance of wildlife conservation.
• The government should take consideration to the number of tourist visiting the park
in one season when making tourism development strategy on the area.
• The government should create the opportunity for the local communities to learn
about family planning.
• The government should give enough compensation for the resettlement of the local
communities to other places keeping their social interest.
• Strict enforcement of the rules developed by the government to protect the
biodiversity.
• The government should demarcate the core areas immediately till the problem will
be solved.

27. Conclusion and Recommendation 21
• The government should finance the research organization to conduct a research on
the park.
• The tourism board should invite and strengthen the cooperation between NGOs
(UNESCO; ASDCE) for the sustainable development of the mountain.
4.2.2 Recommendations to the local community
As settlement and human reproduction in the park let the number of the population to
increase dramatically which is affecting the biodiversity and the natural attraction, the
researcher recommends the following measures for the local community to take in to
consideration.
• Respect the zonings made by UNESCO though it is loose
• Try to Stop hunting during the mating season of the animals
• Take lessons about family planning
• Make a plan regarding their fire to have a fertile agricultural land.
4.2.3 Recommendations to Tourists
As the number of tourists are rapidly increasing in the park which shows some influencing
impact on the biodiversity, the researcher recommends following points to the local and
international tourists;
• The tourists should obey to the regulations of the park.
• The tourists should travel in off seasons too as far as they can visit what they want
from the park.
• The tourists should contribute some how in awareness creation to the local
communities.
• The tourists should share some ideas from their travelling experience for the park
management.

28. Conclusion and Recommendation 22

29. Annex 23
Annex
Annex A) Map of Ethiopia ...................................................................... 22
Annex B) Map of SMNP ........................................................................... 22
Annex C) Local people in SMNP…………………………………………………………………………23
Annex D) Road Construction in the park……………………………………………………………24

30. Annex 24
Annex A) Map of Ethiopia
Source, getimage site
Annex B) Map of SMNP
Source; Mesele yihunie, 2006

31. Annex 25
Annex C) Local people in SMNP
Source; Aysheshim Tiruneh (2008)

32. Annex 26
Annex D) The mountain overview
Source; Aysheshim Tiruneh (2008)

33. Bibliography 27
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URL: http//www.unesco.org (Accessed December 23, 2009. 18:37)
URL: http//www.earthtrends.wir.org (Accessed February 17, 2010. 11:10)
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35. Declaration 29
Declaration
I hereby declare that the whole of this independent study is my own work, except where
explicitly stated otherwise in the text or in the bibliography.
This work has not been submitted in the same or substantially similar version, not even in
part, to any other authority for grading and has not been published elsewhere.
Salzburg, Austria, April, 2010 _________________________
Aysheshim Tiruneh Alemu