See the scientific article here: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41558-024-02221-w
African mountain regions are on the frontlines of climate change, yet adaptation remains largely incremental. What does this mean for the millions of people who depend on these fragile ecosystems?
Mountain regions are among the most vulnerable ecosystems to climate change. Rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, and extreme weather events are intensifying challenges for communities that depend on these environments for their livelihoods. Despite the urgency, there is still limited research on how local farmers in African mountain regions perceive and respond to climate change.
A recent study published in Nature Climate Change by Aida Cuni-Sanchez and colleagues sheds light on these issues, analyzing perceived climate change impacts and adaptation responses across ten African mountain regions. The study, which surveyed 1,500 smallholder farmers, provides critical insights into how communities are coping—and what needs to change for long-term resilience.
What Are Farmers Experiencing?
The research identifies seven key climate-related impacts affecting farmers in nearly all study sites, including:
Reduced stream flow and water availability
Declining crop yields and livestock productivity
Increased soil erosion and land degradation
Rising pest and disease outbreaks affecting crops and animals
Worsening human health due to climate-related diseases such as malaria and waterborne illnesses
Notably, some of these effects—like reduced fog—had not been widely documented before, highlighting the importance of local observations in climate research.
How Are Farmers Adapting?
To cope with these impacts, farmers are employing a mix of on-farm () and off-farm adaptation strategies. On-Farm Adaptations include changing planting dates, sowing seeds twice (to hedge against crop failure), switching to improved crop varieties, increasing soil conservation measures, fertilizers, and pesticides, or expanding irrigation where possible. Off-Farm Adaptations include: seeking alternative livelihoods such as mining or timber trade, or migrating to urban areas (though this was limited in some regions).
Despite these efforts, adaptation remains mostly incremental—meaning farmers are making small adjustments rather than fundamentally transforming their agricultural practices or livelihoods. This could leave them vulnerable to worsening climate shocks in the future.
What Are the Biggest Barriers?
The study identifies three major constraints that prevent farmers from taking more effective, long-term adaptation measures:
Limited access to credit and markets – Without financial resources, many farmers struggle to invest in climate-resilient farming practices.
Weak institutional support and governance – Inconsistent agricultural policies and lack of government engagement make adaptation difficult.
Lack of climate-related knowledge and technical skills – Many farmers rely on traditional indicators, which are becoming less reliable due to shifting climate patterns.
Additionally, violent conflicts in some regions (such as Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of Congo) further limit adaptation options, making it harder for farmers to plan ahead.
Are There Signs of Transformational Change?
While adaptation is mainly incremental, a few regions show early signs of transformational adaptation. For example:
In Mount Kenya, “elite” farmers are helping spread knowledge and resources within their communities.
In Mount Kilimanjaro, strong social networks and remittances from urban relatives are enabling farmers to experiment with new strategies.
In Bale Mountains (Ethiopia), government-supported extension services are improving knowledge exchange.
However, these cases remain exceptions rather than the norm. More needs to be done to scale up transformational adaptation across African mountain regions.
What Needs to Change?
Based on these findings, the study highlights three urgent priorities for strengthening climate adaptation in African mountain regions:
Improve access to credit, markets, and technical support – Farmers need better financial tools and training to invest in resilient farming practices.
Enhance knowledge exchange – Strengthening local networks and farmer-to-farmer learning can accelerate adaptation.
Address governance challenges – Governments must integrate local realities into national policies and provide stronger support for rural communities.
Conclusion
African mountain communities are already facing the harsh realities of climate change. While farmers are taking steps to adapt, most responses remain small-scale and reactive. Without broader structural changes—including improved governance, better financial access, and stronger knowledge-sharing networks—these communities will continue to struggle with the growing impacts of climate change.
This study serves as a crucial call to action: now is the time to move beyond incremental adaptation and towards transformational change in African mountain regions.
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Citation: Cuni-Sanchez, A., Aneseyee, A.B., Baderha, G.K., Batumike, R., Bitariho, R., Imani, G., Jha, N., Kaganzi, K.R., Kaplin, B.A., Klein, J.A. and Leite, A., 2025. Perceived climate change impacts and adaptation responses in ten African mountain regions. Nature Climate Change 18:153-161.