Natural Resources Management Needs Assessment to Facilitate Ecotourism in the Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park in Jamaica, West Indies.
Investigators:
Evan Mercer,
Southern Research Station
Alton Thompson, NC A& T State University
Charles Panton, NC A& T State University
Godfrey Gayle, NC A &T State University
Charles Raczkowski, NC A & T State University
Description:
The Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park (BMJCM) was established in January 1990 by a joint Government of Jamaica and USAID effort to protect 200,000 acres of mountain forest in eastern Jamaica. The original objective of this research project was to provide a preliminary assessment of the potential biophysical and socio-economic impacts of ecotourism development in the (BMJCM) by synthesizing existing soils and hydrological data and rapid appraisals of the tourism sector and local communities. In 1996, a second phase of the project was initiated to collect and analyze soils and flora data and to implement surveys of international tourists and Jamaican visitors to the BMJCM to estimate potential ecotourism demand using conjoint analysis, contingent valuation, and travel cost analysis. In 1997, a third phase was added for primary data collection (household surveys) of the local communities in and around the BMJCM. The objective of this third phase is to assess potential constraints to ecotourism development, the potential for local communities to benefit from the park, and to evaluate methods for encouraging local community participation in planning and managing the BMJCM
Problem Area(s):
Tropical forestry,
Market-level models
Status:
Ongoing
Products:
Flemming, George. 1997. Assessing the Domestic Demand for Ecotourism in Jamaica. MS Thesis, Department of Agricultural Economics, North Carolina A & T State University.
Alston, Antoine J. 1998. Effective Community Development: Involving Local Residents in Planning Ecotourism in Selected Mountain Communities of Jamaica. MS Thesis, Department of Agricultural Education, North Carolina A & T State University.
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modified:
13-MAR-2000
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USDA FS SRS
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