Community-Centered Sustainable Ecotourism Planning in the Bossou Forest Reserve, Guinea, West Africa

Forest reserves are spaces of conservation and often ecotourism as well. Evidence suggests that local community participation in the forest reserve space tends to break down under weak sector management. The Bossou Reserve (BFR) Guinea, West Africa has deteriorated considerably due fragmentation inexorable decline chimpanzee populations since 1970s. situation is largely attributable several complex interrelated factors, including lack established processes support meaningful planning. Ecotourism planning, with communities, considered strengthen management BFR connectivity. This paper reports on an approach sustainable planning using Limits Acceptable Change (LAC) framework determine drivers change livelihood concerns. Fieldwork undertook 2019 entailed concept mapping activities which were followed by a participatory geographic information system (PGIS) community-scale considers multiple needs stakeholders. Data analysis resulted community-centered situational assessment classification opportunities, both inform social-ecological resilience. study provides baseline data for developing robust plan capable coping changing internal external stressors. PGIS-based can priorities potentially applicable other African areas similar ecological settings.