Communities take charge of climate strategies
12.03.2015
The effects of climate change are now visible: erratic weather patterns causing food insecurity and threatening the livelihoods of the communities that depend on the mountain ecosystems. These communities are in Taita Hills in the coastal region of Kenya and the Kilimanjaro region of Tanzania at the foot of the highest mountain in Africa. The rural communities, especially women and people with special needs, are most vulnerable to these effects of climate change and variability in their food production and other uses of the ecosystem services.
One of the areas of focus for the Climate Change Impacts on Ecosystem Services and Food Security in Eastern Africa (CHIESA) project is “Elaboration of Adaptation strategies” to develop tools and strategies that are necessary to decrease the vulnerability of rural communities to the effects of climate change. It is in support of this goal that the project has been mobilizing the communities in the target areas to develop community-based climate change adaptation plans.
During this process, CHIESA is aware of the fact that the effects of climate change vary in magnitude among the different groups and livelihood activities. With this in mind, the participants selected to take part in the process comprised of women; men; youth and people with special needs. The diversity in the groups has so far given different perspectives on the impacts of climate change and the solutions that can be implemented. Learning from the people with special needs provides results that help avoid maladaptation and builds on the approach of equal opportunities.
Through research and training, CHIESA also builds the capacity of research communities, extension officers and decision makers in environmental research, as well as disseminates adaptation strategies with regard to climate change.
The adaptation plan prepared with input from the community will be shared with policy makers to contribute to the local and national policies.
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Photos and news by International Center of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE)
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