Sustainable mountain development in East Africa in a changing climate

African Mountains and Climate Change: The case of Mount Elgon living around the mountain area, including the Benet Ndorobo people (Ongugo et. al., 2014). The mountain area contains endangered species, some of which are endemic to the Afromontane region, making it one of the major tourist attractions in East Africa (Ongugo et al., 2014). Key challenges

Mount Elgon is shared between Uganda and Kenya and stands at a height of about 4,000 metres above sea level (MoWE, 2013). In Uganda, Mount Elgon National Park covers nearly 1,121 km² of the mountain’s 4,000 km² area (UWA, 2009a). The mountain was listed as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 2005 due to its considerable plant diversity, including several rare species of Afromontane flora, its cultural significance and role as a water catchment area (UWA, 2009a). Apart from being one of the most important areas of biodiversity and a water tower for both Uganda and Kenya, Mt. Elgon also serves as a catchment area for the drainage systems of three lakes - Victoria, Turkana and Kyoga (MoWE, 2013). Mount Elgon’s Afromontane forests provide a range of foods, fibres and fodder for the people

rainfall, as well as natural features of the area such as soil properties and steep slopes. The result has been flooding of downstream areas, extensive soil erosion and landslides which have destroyed lives and property. Policy responses The international community and the Governments of Kenya and Uganda have paid special attention to Mount Elgon because of its importance as a transboundary resource and a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. The two governments have gazetted landslide and mudslide prone areas, prohibited settlement in high risk areas and are in the process of resettling people living in land/mudslide prone areas. They have also made significant efforts to promote reforestation. The Ugandan Wildlife Authority, through its Forests Absorbing Carbon Emissions project, has, to date, restored over 6 000 ha of natural forest in an effort to sequester carbon. The United Nations through UNDP and UNEP, the district authorities of Mbale, Manafwa and Bududa, and the Ugandan Ministry of Water and Environment, have implemented the Territorial Approach to Climate Change, whose overall objective is to support local low carbon and climate change- resilient development by helping local decisionmakers and planners to design integrated climate change (adaptation and mitigation) policies and strategies, and formulate solid action and investment plans that promote long-term sustainability and poverty reduction (UNDP, 2011). Other initiatives include the Mt. Elgon Regional Ecosystem Conservation Programme whose main aim is to strengthen natural transboundary resource management, with a focus on participatory benefit sharing models.

Mount Elgon’s ecosystem is vulnerable to the impacts of climate change largely because of the mountain’s high population density (900 people per km² on the Uganda side, with a population growth rate of 3.4 per cent per annum). This puts a lot of pressure on the mountain ecosystem, particularly given the fact that the main source of livelihoods for Mount Elgon communities is agriculture and that hilly areas are being cleared for settlements and farming. The slopes of Mount Elgon are highly prone to landslides that are caused by a combination of unsustainable land-use practices, high population densities, heavy

Mount Elgon, Uganda

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