Sustainable mountain development in East Africa in a changing climate

Introduction

Governance of East Africa’s mountainous areas covers not only the five countries of the East African Community (EAC), but also other countries in East, Central and Southern Africa, which share transboundary ecosystems with East Africa. In order to effectively address the challenges of climate change in the mountainous areas of East Africa, policy coordination between countries and regional economic communities neighbouringEAC is required. Policies and institutional arrangements, as well as specific mountain region programmes, implemented in East Africa to address sustainable natural resources management, community livelihoods and development in a changing climate, have the potential to facilitate societal and environmental resilience. The formulation and implementation of such policies and actions take place at different levels including subnational, national and transnational. At the continental level, the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) Action Plan for the Environment Initiative, which was developed and is being implemented as an AMCEN initiative, is key in addressing Africa’s mountain policy agenda. Africa’s rich indigenous knowledge and practices in mountain resources management are also key to policy formulation. Such knowledge and practices have evolved over a long period of time and sustained resources and livelihoods. While some of these practices may no longer effectively address the current challenges, many are still effective and suited to the local environment and therefore need to be identified and enhanced for replication and up-scaling in order to ensure sustainable development and community resilience to the changing climate of East Africa.

Young mountain gorilla, DRC

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