Sustainable mountain development in East Africa in a changing climate

on a number of relevant programmes including agricultural development and food security, natural resource management, environmental protection, conflict prevention/management and transport and communications. All these programmes contain provisions pertaining to sustainable mountain ecosystem-based development, which can be profitably utilized to design and implement a mountain agenda for the region. In addition, IGAD has also carried out a number of assessments – the IGAD Environment Outlook (2007), for example – which provides awealth of information for addressing climate change and mountain issues, among others. The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) was established in 1993, as a

common market institutional arrangement and has its Secretariat in Lusaka, Zambia. The organization is operating within a variety of policies and institutional frameworks. A number of programmes with components relevant to mountain ecosystems and climate change have been developed under the COMESA framework. These include programmes on climate change, agriculture and livelihoods, which are linked to the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD). However, none of these programmes directly address mountain issues. NEPAD, adopted by the African Heads of State and Government in 2001, is a commitment by African leaders to eradicate poverty and promote sustainable growth and development (Rehabeam,

2004). Under this partnership, there are a number of institutional frameworks that guide and support the implementation of policies and programmes geared to realizing the common vision of the Heads of State. It has a Secretariat in Pretoria, South Africa, which provides overall coordination and guidance. Under this institutional arrangement, resources have been allocated and a number of programmes have been implemented, some of which address issues pertinent to sustainable mountain ecosystems. One of the most important and relevant programmes is the NEPAD Action Plan for the Environment Initiative developed and implemented under AMCEN. The Action Plan was finalized and approved in 2003 and contains many components relevant to the environment and development in mountainous areas, including environmental hazards which are common in mountains. The SADC is an economic organization comprising of 15 states, some of which are located in Eastern and Central Africa. Some of these countries are also part of the East African mountain ecosystem region; namely, Tanzania, Malawi and DRC. The programme offers an opportunity for developing and implementing programmes that could have significant relevance to East African mountain development. The transnational issues affecting areas like Mulanje Highlands in Malawi, and the Virunga Mountains and the Rwenzori Mountains, could be best addressed through such an institutional arrangement, something that has so far been difficult under the EAC, particularly with regard to Malawi and DRC (COMESA/EAC/ SADC, 2011). In summary, the EAC is strategically well positioned to spearhead transboundary mountain ecosystem management, while synergizing with subrelated regional entities.

Countryside, Burundi

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