Community Managed Heritage Sites In Protected Areas—Challenges and Opportunities Post-Covid-19: A Case Study Of Thingini Shrine In Mt. Kenya National Park Susan Mbuthia And Margaret Wangui Muriuki

Mount Kenya, Africa's second-highest mountain and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, faces significant challenges in balancing cultural heritage preservation with sustainable economic development. A case study of Thingini Shrine, a sacred Kikuyu site within the protected landscape, reveals that while community management holds potential for tourism-driven growth, it is hindered by lack of formal guidelines, financial capital, and equitable benefit-sharing mechanisms. These gaps contribute to illegal poaching and logging, particularly of endangered species like the Mountain Bongo. The study highlights the need for coordinated collaboration among communities, government agencies, and NGOs to mobilize resources, improve market connectivity, and ensure sustainable heritage management post-Covid-19.

Mbuthia, S., & Muriuki, M. W. (2024). Community Managed Heritage Sites In Protected Areas—Challenges and Opportunities Post-Covid-19: A Case Study Of Thingini Shrine In Mt. Kenya National Park Susan Mbuthia And Margaret Wangui Muriuki. Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism, 155–162. https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003494461-15