BARRIERS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR SUSTAINABLE ECOTOURISM AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION IN GASHAKA GUMTI NATIONAL PARK

Gashaka Gumti National Park (GGNP), Nigeria's largest and most biodiverse protected area, holds significant promise for sustainable ecotourism and conservation. This study investigates the barriers limiting ecotourism development and the opportunities for enhancing conservation outcomes within the park. Using data from 195 community respondents through structured questionnaires, field observations, and qualitative analysis, the findings reveal low community involvement, poor infrastructure, ineffective waste management, and minimal economic benefits from tourism as major constraints. Despite these challenges, there is potential to strengthen partnerships with NGOs, enhance community-based tourism initiatives, and invest in sustainable infrastructure and local capacity. The study advocates for an inclusive, multi-stakeholder governance model to unlock GGNP’s ecotourism potential while supporting biodiversity protection and socio-economic development in surrounding communities.