Sustainable mountain development in East Africa in a changing climate

Lessons learned Mount Elgon is endowed with unique ecosystems that provide ecosystem goods and services upon which many communities depend. Despite the amount of investment in mountain areas, landslides still occur. Several activities have been implemented to integrate ecosystem-based adaptation measures into the District Development Plans for Sironko, Bulambuli, Kapchorwa and Kween. Recommendations The EAC and the Government of Kenya and Uganda have put in place requisite policies and legal frameworks, but the level of implementation and compliance with these instruments is still very low, especially at the regional level. There is need to mainstream climate change adaptation at all levels, from sectoral strategies and programmes down to the grassroots level. Furthermore, there is a need for an exclusive and comprehensive climate change policy in Kenya and a legislative framework that creates, or sets out a mandate for a leading institution to spearhead the nation’s efforts in climate change adaptation and mitigation. In addition, climate change policy should have a clear and comprehensive implementation framework to ensure that funds are channelled into projects that address the most vulnerable social groups and regions. Both Uganda and Kenya need to harmonize their environmental policies because, at the moment, they are scattered, disjointed and sometimes contradictory, and are therefore failing to address climate change and mitigation issues, particularly in mountain areas.

A deadly landslide in Nametsi village, Bududa district, on the slopes of Mount Elgon National Park, left over 300 people buried, in addition to homes and community health centres.

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