Munanura, Ian

Position Type: 
Faculty
Job Title: 
Associate Professor
Department: 
Forest Ecosystems & Society
Office Location: 

301K Richardson Hall

Phone Number: 
(541) 737-4271
Education: 
Ph.D., 2013, Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management at Clemson University (USA)
M.S., 2004, Tourism and Conservation, University of Kent (England)
B.S., 2000, Management, University of Rwanda (Rwanda)
Research Areas: 
  • Sustainable Recreation and Tourism
  • Social Science, Policy and Natural Resources
  • Integrated Social and Ecological Systems
Research Interests: 
  • Social Science
  • Tourism
Ecotourism as means to enhance wildlife conservation and community livelihoods in the tropics; Constraints for forest-based recreation among the people of color in the Pacific Northwest region; Social drivers of, and tolerance for, human-wildlife conflict in the tropics.
Bio: 
Dr. Ian Munanura is an Associate Professor at Oregon State University in the Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society and the College of Forestry. He has a doctorate in parks, recreation, and tourism management from Clemson University in the United States, a master's degree in tourism and conservation from the University of Kent in England, and a bachelor's degree in management from the University of Rwanda. Dr. Munanura's work integrates sustainable tourism, rural community development, and participatory wildlife management practices. His current research in the United States focuses on identifying the barriers that prevent people of color from recreating in forests. In Africa, he examines the constraints limiting human-wildlife coexistence and the possibilities of nature-based solutions, such as ecotourism. Dr. Munanura previously oversaw and advised integrated wildlife conservation programs in Africa, including those financed by the United States Agency for International Development. He was also the Country Program Director for the Wildlife Conservation Society in Rwanda. Additionally, he managed the Forest Landscape Restoration Program of the International Union for Conservation of Nature for East and Southern Africa.

Advising

Graduate Major Advisor
Selected Publications: 
  1. Munanura, E.I., Parada, J.T., & Kline, J.D. A cognitive appraisal theory perspective of Resident’s support for tourism (in press: Journal of Ecotourism).
  2. Munanura, I. E., Needham, M, D., Lindberg, K., Kooistra, C., & Ghahramani, L. (2023). Support for tourism: The roles of attitudes, subjective wellbeing, and emotional solidarity. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 31(2), 581-596.
  3. Munanura, I. E., & Kline, J. D. (2022). Residents’ Support for Tourism: The Role of Tourism Impact Attitudes, Forest Value Orientations, and Quality of Life in Oregon, United States. Tourism Planning & Development, 1-17.
  4. Munanura, I. E., Kooistra, C., & Ghahramani, L. (2022) The role of tourism impact attitudes, subjective wellbeing, and emotional solidarity in predicting support for tourism. International Journal of Tourism Sciences, 20(1), 8-25.
  5. Munanura, I. E., Sabuhoro, E., Hunt, C. A., & Ayorekire, J. (2021). Livelihoods and Tourism: Capital Assets, Household Resiliency, and Subjective Wellbeing. Tourism and Hospitality, 2(4), 347-364.
  6. Munanura, I. E., Backman, K. F., Sabuhoro, E., & Bernhard, K. P. (2019). The Potential of Tourism Benefits to Reduce Forest Dependence Behavior of Impoverished Residents Adjacent to Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. Tourism Planning & Development, 17, 475-496.
  7. Munanura, I. E., Backman, K. F., Hallo, J. C., Powell, R. B., & Sabuhoro, E. (2018). Understanding the Relationship Between Livelihood Constraints of Poor Forest-adjacent Residents, and Illegal Forest Use, at Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda. Conservation and Society, 16(3), 291-304.
  8. Munanura, I. E., Backman, K. F., Sabuhoro, E., Powell, R. B., & Hallo, J. C. (2018). The perceived forms and drivers of forest dependence at Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda. Environmental Sociology, 4(3), 343-357.
  9. Munanura, I. E., Tumwesigye, B., Sabuhoro, E., Mariza, D., & Rugerinyange, L. (2018). The quality and performance nexus of the community-based ecotourism enterprises at Nyungwe National Park, Rwanda: a total quality management perspective. Journal of Ecotourism, 17(2), 160-183.
  10. Munanura, I. E., Backman, K. F., Hallo, J. C., & Powell, R. B. (2016). Perceptions of tourism revenue sharing impacts on Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda: A Sustainable Livelihoods framework. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 24(12), 1709-1726.