Community-driven solutions are needed to protect mountain communities from climate change impact

More community-driven solutions are urgently needed to protect vulnerable mountain communities from climate change, according to new research from an international partnership, including the Basque Centre for Climate Change (BC3).

The research is focused on people in African mountain regions and found they are all experiencing the tangible impacts of climate change. This includes increasingly unpredictable weather patterns, leading to less reliable planting and harvesting schedules and increased pests and diseases that disrupt traditional agricultural practices and reduce crop yields productivity.

Widespread impact

Other widespread impacts reported included reduced water availability, increased soil erosion, and poorer health in livestock. These changes are having profound effects on livelihoods, food security, and local economies and mean a critically urgent response is required.

 The work from researchers at several European and African universities, including lead author Dr Aida Cuni-Sanchez, YESI Resilient Socio-ecological Systems Research Theme Lead, Professor Rob Marchant, and Dr. Noelia Zafra-Calvo Research Fellow at the Basque Centre for Climate Change (BC3), is published in Nature Climate Change. It is complemented by a policy brief titled Climate Change in African Mountains: An Increasing Challenge and Contribution of Local Adaptation Responses; in English and French.

Tangible research

The study involved interviews with 1,500 smallholder farmers and smallholders from

ten mountain regions in eight countries across equatorial Africa. It finds that farmers in all these mountain regions are experiencing the tangible impacts of climate change.

The researchers also found that in response to climate challenges, the mountain communities are resilient and are employing a wide range of adaptation strategies. These practical approaches include changing farming practices such as, adopting new crops, investing in water and soil management, using agrochemicals, and using more veterinary care. And in some cases, it also means people migrating to more hospitable areas.

Adaptation responses

However, the study also highlights that the number and type of adaptation responses character of responses varies significantly across the ten mountains, underlining that a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach is inadequate.

Professor Marchant emphasised the importance of these findings. He said: “African mountain regions are hotspots of biodiversity and cultural heritage, but they are increasingly vulnerable to climate change. Our research underlines the critical and urgent need for localised adaptation strategies to mitigate the socio-ecological and economic impacts communities face.”

Shaping policy

The research’s accompanying policy brief calls for increased investment in community-driven solutions that respect the unique characteristics of each region. It also advocates for collaborative action between local communities, governments, and international organisations to co- develop sustainable adaptation strategies.

Dr Zafra-Calvo highlighted: “Adaptation actions by external actors in these regions need to rely on participatory and co-produced approaches that are culturally appropriate, just and recognize the previous experiences, knowledge and values of the communities.”

Unique approaches

Dr Cuni-Sanchez also highlighted the uniqueness of the research. She explained: “In most African mountains there are no meteorological stations, or long-term records of crop yields. Just because changes have not been recorded, it doesn’t mean they did not take place. We approached farmers’ perceptions and their indigenous knowledge as living records of past changes, and we show that there have been numerous climatic changes and impacts, in all mountains studied. We hope that our approach inspires researchers and practitioners working in other data-deficient regions, as climate change is affecting us all.”

Urgent action

This research highlights the nuances of climate change impacts in African mountains the resilience of African mountain communities while emphasising the urgent need for tailored interventions to address the growing challenges posed by climate change. It also stresses the need for climate adaptation policies to be informed by the lived experiences and practices of mountain communities.