ABSTRACT

This study examines the role of biodiversity preservation, cultural awareness, and community involvement in sustaining natural attractions in Amakamma Olokoro and Arochukwu communities, Abia State, Nigeria. Using a mixed-method approach, data were collected from 258 respondents through structured questionnaires. Key findings reveal that biodiversity preservation significantly contributes to sustainability, with a mean score of 3.63, while community involvement in ecotourism planning and decision-making achieved a high mean score of 3.66. The study also shows that educating tourists about local culture and traditions enhances conservation efforts, with an average mean score of 3.66. Furthermore, cultural and traditional practices were identified as vital elements of sustainable tourism development, scoring a mean of 3.56. Regression analysis demonstrated that biodiversity preservation (β = 0.511, p < 0.05) and community involvement (β = 0.449, p < 0.05) are significant predictors of sustainability, accounting for 90.3% of the variance in sustainability (R² = 0.903). The findings underscore the importance of integrating biodiversity conservation, cultural awareness, and community participation to achieve sustainable tourism development. Recommendations include strengthening biodiversity preservation programs, enhancing cultural education initiatives for tourists, and fostering greater community involvement in ecotourism planning. This study contributes to knowledge by providing a framework for sustainable ecotourism development in similar contexts.