Adapting to the Mountains: How African Farmers are Navigating Climate Change Challenges

“Mountains are the watchtowers of climate change,” stated Julia Klein, a professor of ecosystem science and sustainability at Colorado State University and co-author of the research. “Similar to the Arctic, we are witnessing some of the earliest extreme changes in mountainous areas, including melting glaciers and severe weather events. Higher elevations are experiencing more intense warming, making these changes in mountains a preview of what may unfold across the planet.” 

Global research has consistently indicated that mountain areas are experiencing a faster rate of temperature increase compared to lower altitudes; however, there is a shortage of climatic data specific to Africa’s mountains. To bridge this gap, researchers conducted interviews with 1,500 farmers across ten mountain regions in Africa to examine how climate change is affecting local life and how farmers are managing these impacts. 

African mountain regions are home to 228 million individuals, with many additional people relying on the water and agricultural resources these areas provide. 

“Numerous individuals in Africa depend on the water and produce that come from these mountain ecosystems—not just in the mountains but also in the lowlands and urban areas,” emphasized lead author Aida Cuni-Sanchez. “We need to develop solutions for these farmers, as the repercussions of climate change will only intensify in the future.” 

Cuni-Sanchez, an associate professor at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences and the University of York (UK), was motivated to pursue this research using a participatory method after her postdoctoral studies at Colorado State University. During that period, she became involved with the Mountain Sentinels, a collaborative network of academics, Indigenous rights advocates, mountain communities, and non-profit organizations dedicated to promoting sustainability in mountainous regions. Supported by the National Science Foundation, the Mountain Sentinels network comprises members from 56 countries, including ten from Africa. 

The research identified common patterns of climatic alterations and their effects across mountain ranges in the eight countries studied—Cameroon, Ethiopia, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, and Tanzania. Farmers reported higher temperatures, diminished fog, fluctuations in rainfall amounts and distribution, and an increase in extreme weather events. The predominant climate-related effects included decreased agricultural yields and livestock production, a rise in pests and diseases, lower human health and water availability, and increased soil erosion. 

Farmers adapted their practices by modifying planting schedules, selecting different crop varieties, improving soil conservation methods, and increasing the use of fertilizers and veterinary care. Some also focused on diversifying their income sources. 

Most adaptation efforts were gradual; farmers made minor adjustments rather than overhauling their entire approach to farming. Additionally, wealthier households tended to adapt better since they could explore multiple strategies. 

In certain areas of Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of Congo, violent conflicts obstructed adaptation efforts, limiting market access, mobility, and economic opportunities for alternative livelihoods. 

The researchers highlighted that improving access to credit, technical expertise, and markets could enhance farmers’ ability to cope with climate change, alongside fostering knowledge exchange among local communities and outsiders. For instance, while some initiatives distribute drought-resistant seeds to promote climate adaptation, they fail to support farmers with guidance, resulting in seeds that are often discarded or left unplanted. 

“People are trying to adapt as best as they can, but they encounter various difficulties, often due to government policies that unintentionally disadvantage mountain communities,” Klein noted, adding that these policies are frequently created by individuals outside these communities, leading to a lack of understanding of local social and cultural contexts. 

For example, in Rwanda, government policies promote the cultivation of maize and beans while discouraging cassava and sorghum, crops local farmers regard as more resilient to drought. 

“In the majority of Africa’s mountains, there are no meteorological stations or extensive records of crop yields. Just because we don’t have documented evidence of changes, it doesn’t indicate that they haven’t occurred,” Cuni-Sanchez remarked. “We approached farmers’ insights and their Indigenous knowledge as invaluable records of historical changes, corroborating that significant climatic changes and effects have transpired in all the studied mountains. Our method is intended to inspire researchers and practitioners in other regions lacking data, as climate change impacts us all.” 

This methodology aligns with the core principles of Mountain Sentinels, which emphasizes the knowledge of local and Indigenous mountain communities and collaboratively develops solutions to their issues. 

“We need to view every data point as an individual—a family striving for a better future for themselves and the next generation,” stated Klein, the founder of the Mountain Sentinels network. “It is our duty to take action for these people.” 

The research paper, published in Nature Climate Change, along with a related policy brief, advocates for the inclusion of community members in co-designing effective solutions. The policy brief, prepared by Cuni-Sanchez and the Basque Centre for Climate Change, emphasizes several priorities for promoting community-driven and culturally appropriate adaptation strategies in Africa’s mountainous areas.