Sustainable mountain development in East Africa in a changing climate

Transboundary mountain regional programmes Mountain ecosystems are more often than not transboundary, stretching across the borders of two or more countries. Anumber of regional programmes have been implemented in East Africa to address transboundary ecosystem management issues and the development of border communities. Some of these programmes also integrate climate change adaptation and community resilience measures. One of the key programmes in East Africa is the Transboundary Agroecosystem Management Programme for the Kagera River Basin, which covers Burundi, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda. The programme is aimed at addressing the causes of land degradation and restoring ecosystem health and functions. The project seeks to generate a range of global environmental benefits across the Kagera Basin through the introduction of adapted agroecosystem

management approaches. It also aims to improve the livelihoods of rural communities in the Kagera Basin through more productive and sustainable resource management practices that are technically and socio- economically viable (FAO, 2013). Two programmes of the Nile Basin Initiative – the Nile Equatorial Lakes Subsidiary Action Programme and the Eastern Nile Subsidiary Action Programme – are transboundary, involving Ethiopia and Sudan. Within the Nile Equatorial Lakes Subsidiary Action Programme, two transboundary projects have been implemented, namely, the Kagera River Basin Transboundary Integrated Water Resources Development Project, involving Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania and Uganda; and the Rusumo Hydropower Project, covering Burundi, Rwanda, and Tanzania (EAC, 2006; Nile Basin Initiative, n.d.).

The Greater Virunga Transboundary Collaboration is the largest and most successful transboundary mountain ecosystem collaboration in the EAC, encompassing not only the countries of the subregion, but also the DRC. The initiative has successfully demonstrated how to handle complex policies, practices and development of communities across borders of several countries in the East Africa Rift system. Under the initiative, Burundi and Rwanda are jointly implementing the Nyungwe and Kibira National Parks Transboundary Strategic Plan, which aims to improve cooperation in the conservation of biodiversity, natural resources and associated cultural values, as well as develop research and ecotourism in both parks. The plan also seeks to promote landscape conservation through planning and improved management of the two protected areas (UNEP, 2014). The Albertine Rift Montane Forests Eco-region Programme 2001–2005, covering a mountain chain within the Albertine Rift straddles the borders of five different nations – DRC, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Tanzania. The programme developed a strategic framework for conservation efforts in the eco-region with a wide variety of stakeholders, and supported national authorities in the planning and management of protected areas and buffer zones. In the case of DRC, one of the key projects is the Albertine Rift Montane Forest Eco-region programme that started in 2004 and ended in 2014 (Arcos Network, n.d.). The Mount Elgon Regional Ecosystem Conservation Programme was implemented by the EAC through the Lake Victoria Basin Commission. It started in 2006, after which it was redesigned in 2008 and ended in 2011. The project improved community livelihoods through the construction of a 25 km road to Chepkitale, planted 381 ha of forest and helped to support climate change adaptation measures in the Mount Elgon region (EAC, 2015).

Queen Elisabeth National Park, Uganda

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