The community guides beliefs attached to different birds provides a practical index of the diversity and condition of an ecosystem on a site-by-site basis using birds as indicators. It is believed that protecting and managing such sites will result in the conservation of some of the most sensitive, fragile and ecologically rich habitats in the world. However, acceptance of the community guides beliefs concept and, thus, site conservation action, by local communities is dependent on their perception of the importance of birds with regard to some aspects of their livelihood. The study was undertaken to examine the community guides beliefs attached to different birds in Kenya within Maasai, Nyanza, Western, Rift Valley and Coastal regions. Results obtained from a google form questionnaire survey, suggest that the response with high proportion was from Western community or locality where people lived. Doi: 10.28991/HEF-2021-02-01-04 Full Text: PDF

Ecotourism has traditionally been viewed as a panacea concept for developing countries to stimulate the economy, as well as, directly provide support for conservation efforts. This study examined the concept of ecotourism for a relatively sustainable, single activity within an established tourism destination of Wasini Island in Kwale County. The purpose of the study was to assess the contribution of ecotourism initiatives to the livelihoods of the local community, guided by the following objective: to assess the attitude of the local community towards ecotourism development. Descriptive survey research was adopted for the study. The target population included all ecotourism entrepreneurs, conservationists, community based organizations (CBOs), and tour operators based in Wasini Island. Systematic random sampling was used to select 320 respondents. Primary data were collected using structured questionnaires while secondary data were obtained through critical examination of public and private recorded documents related to the study. Data were analyzed using techniques which included frequencies, means, modes and percentages. Ecotourism initiatives in the study area have significantly contributed to job creation and financial empowerment to the local people. Ecotourism in the study area has contributed to the acquisition of both human (education) and physical assets owned by the local community. Environmental conservation has also been achieved through ecotourism initiatives. In the face of joblessness, residents of Wasini need to be capacitated to venture into ecotourism projects as it has the potential of improving livelihoods.Keywords: ecotourism initiatives, ecotourism development, sustainable livelihood, Wasini Island, attitudes, Kwale County IntroductionTourism is a phenomenon that is constantly evolving, developing, and reformulating itself as a consumer activity (Page, 2009). Tourism, as a consumer activity, is constantly being developed by the tourism industry and individual businesses, as marketing is used to develop new ideas, products and services and destinations (Page, 2009). Tourism is a complex phenomenon, one that is extremely difficult to describe succinctly (Goeldner & Ritchie, 2012). Travel and tourism has many positive benefits, including that it is, for some countries, the main source of job creation and revenue (Tribe, 2006).Tourism brings both economic and noneconomic benefits that include the contribution of pleasure travel to rest and relaxation, the educational benefit, the understanding of other people and cultures, and the physical and mental well-being of the traveller (Goeldner & Ritchie, 2012). Tourism is a powerful, potential tool for Jairus N. Koki, Ph.D. student, Business Department, Eldoret National Polytechnic. Email: kokijairus@gmail.com. (Goeldner & Ritchie, 2012). The fact that tourism is a principal export of 80% of developing countries and the first source of foreign exchange for all of the 49 LDCs aside from petroleum (Diaz, 2001) is highly significant -and merits a much ...

No abstract