The present study is aimed at evaluating the current state of the management of Idanre Hills with the view to contribute knowledge to the sustainable development of the attraction. The natural landscape of the hills is replete with an abundance of biodiversity and a cultural heritage that has survived for centuries. Today, the Idanre landscape is a preferred destination explored for its benefits (notably environmental, economic and socio-cultural).
Being in the tentative list of world heritage site, the stakeholders in accordance with the UNESCO regulation have been tasked with adopting effective management and protection strategies to ensure the development of a sustainable heritage site for the present and future generations amongst other benefits.
From analysis of literature, in its current state; some factors were found to constitute barriers to the attainment of high performance in the management of Idanre hills including conflict of interests between members of the Idanre community and the state authority on the subject of management; inadequate financial resources, climate change, lack of political will, poor infrastructure, limited education in tourism destination management amongst others. Various solutions have been proffered concerning effective management and sustainable development of tourism attraction from scholarly works.
Meanwhile, it is believed that the recommendations for the assessment of management performance should ultimately be in line with the criteria as specified by the UNESCO for the reason that Idanre hills is in the tentative list of world heritage sites. The outcome of adhering to these management criteria is that consequently, the conditions of integrity of the attraction are sustained or enhanced over a longer period.
Table of Contents
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
INTRODUCTION
ANALYSIS OF LITERATURE
Ondo State: The Home of Idanre Hills
Idanre Hills: The study Setting
Geography and Ecology
The People of Idanre
The Attractions
Review of Literature
CONCLUSION/RECOMMENDATION (S)
Objectives and Themes
This study evaluates the current management of Idanre Hills to provide knowledge for sustainable tourism development. It addresses the challenges of preserving a cultural and natural landscape that serves as both a heritage site and a tourist destination, focusing on balancing economic benefits with environmental and socio-cultural conservation.
- Sustainability and management effectiveness of ecotourism destinations.
- Impact of biodiversity loss and conservation strategies in protected areas.
- Analysis of tourism development challenges, including infrastructure and conflict of interest.
- Alignment of local management practices with international UNESCO World Heritage criteria.
Excerpt from the Book
The Agbagba Hill
The hill became quite famous because of Agboogun, a mysterious foot print that is found on it. In pre-colonial times, it was believed that any witch or wizard would be detected simply by stepping into the foot print. For tourists to get to Agbagba hill where the mysterious foot print is located, they must embark on the journey very early in the morning and return in the evening because it is a distance of several kilometers (The National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM), 2008; Adisa, 2010; Olu et al., 2018).
Summary of Chapters
INTRODUCTION: This chapter introduces the importance of tourism for national economies and highlights the critical need for sustainable planning and management to protect fragile cultural and natural heritage sites like Idanre Hills.
ANALYSIS OF LITERATURE: This section examines the geographical, ecological, and cultural landscape of Idanre Hills, reviews existing scholarly works on management threats and biodiversity, and assesses the potential for sustainable ecotourism.
CONCLUSION/RECOMMENDATION (S): This final section synthesizes findings on management challenges and advocates for an integrated framework that aligns local policy with UNESCO heritage standards to ensure long-term sustainability.
Keywords
Ecotourism, Idanre Hills, protected areas, management effectiveness, biodiversity conservation, sustainable development, cultural heritage, UNESCO World Heritage, tourism planning, environmental impact, stakeholder management, community-based conservation, socio-economic impact, wildlife, natural landscape.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this work?
The work focuses on evaluating the current management of the Idanre Hills to identify strategies for sustainable development that protect the site's unique cultural and natural features.
What are the core thematic areas discussed?
The key themes include management effectiveness, biodiversity conservation, sustainable tourism planning, and the socio-economic impacts on the local Idanre community.
What is the main research objective?
The objective is to analyze how sustainability is incorporated into the management system of Idanre Hills and to recommend improvements aligned with UNESCO heritage criteria.
What scientific methodology is utilized?
The study relies on a comprehensive literature review and an analysis of existing scholarly works, ecological data, and UNESCO regulatory frameworks for heritage management.
What does the main body cover?
The main body covers the geographical and ecological setting, a detailed review of tourism literature, biodiversity profiles, management challenges, and the potential of the site as a world heritage attraction.
Which keywords best characterize the work?
Key terms include Ecotourism, Idanre Hills, biodiversity conservation, management effectiveness, and sustainable development.
What role does the Idanre community play in the management of the hills?
The community is central to the management of the site through traditional practices and their role in local tourism activities, although the study notes recurring conflicts between community use and state-level regulatory policies.
Why is the "buffer zone" concept relevant to this study?
The buffer zone is essential for protecting the integrity of the heritage site by managing land use and human activity in areas surrounding the core attraction, thereby mitigating the impact of tourism development.
What impact does politics have on the management of Idanre Hills?
Political instability and shifting government priorities have historically caused setbacks in funding and the continuity of development projects, posing a challenge to sustainable operations.
- Quote paper
- Akinmayowa Adedoyin Shobo (Author), 2021, Management Aspects of an Ecotourism Attraction. A Review on Idanre Hills, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1042116
