33 Mountain Research Initiative Newsletter no. 7, 2012 News from MRI’s Regional Networks Mountain and highland initiatives: AfroMont’s heritage and lessons To build a research network on African mountains, it is essential to capital- ize on the legacy that has been left by previous mountain initiatives, learning both from their strengths and failures. Among the circumstances that motivat- ed mountain initiatives in Africa, one could cite the rapid population growth, fragile ecosystems, economic pres- sures, and transboundary conflicts. The consequences of such issues have compromised population livelihood in terms of water shortages, land degrada- tion, change in rainfall seasons, inva- sive pests and diseases and increased poverty in many African countries. The African Mountains Association (AMA) This ambitious initiative was created by African researchers with a non-gov- ernmental Pan-African status. Formed in Ambo, Ethiopia, in 1986, its objec- tives were to create a venue for inter- action between African researchers and to influence policy. The Associa- tion contributed to the discussions on the Mountain Agenda which led to the inclusion of a chapter on sustainable mountain development (Chapter 13) in Agenda 21. Despite the enthusiasm and determination by organizing meetings across the continent (Morocco, Kenya, and Lesotho) and publishing news- AfroMont Global Change Research Network of African Mountains: Legacy, Role and Visions Editorial “These regional networks are where “real people do real research.” We will persist in our attempt to keep these networks functioning, to make manifest those potential communities of researchers” Greg Greenwood the Executive Director of MRI. Mountain research has received very little attention and publicity in African countries. African mountains and high- lands are however the most important assets of the continent contributing significantly to the socioeconomic de- velopment in terms of water, land and other essential resources. Unfortunate- ly, there has been no significant impact of research outputs on governance and policy making over the last decades. The rapid utilisation of natural resourc- es and the lack of relevant policies of conservation for sustainability will cer- tainly lead to frequent disasters such as drought, famine and starvation, which in many situations have been wrongly attributed to the “never-ending saga” of global change. The degradation of eco- systems and the exploitation of natural resources will decimate the unique bio- diversity of this continent if decisions to reverse this trend are not taken. Networking and coordination are prom- ising initiatives that consolidate moun- tain research all over the world. How- ever, in Africa such initiatives should be backed by a strong enthusiasm from African governments. As far as moun- tains are concerned, supporting poli- cies are necessary to overcome these prophesied calamities often credited to global change. It is within this framework that MRI through the Food Agriculture Orga- nization (FAO) initiated an African global change research network for mountains - AfroMont - to promote and facilitate communication among moun- tain researchers and stakeholders, and to inform policy. During the last year, this initiative has mobilized signifi- cant support for the generation of new knowledge on long term sustainability in African mountains. Saliou Niassy Network Coordinator MRI Coordinator for AfroMont Centre for Environmental Studies University of Pretoria [email protected]Skype: saliou.niassy Landline +27124204527 Fax +27124203210 http://mri.scnatweb.ch/mri-africa Saliou Niassy and Willem Ferguson „To build a research network on African mountains it is essential to capitalize the legacy that has been left by previous mountain initiatives.“
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33Mountain Research Initiative Newsletter no. 7, 2012
News from MRI’s Regional Networks
Mountain and highland initiatives: AfroMont’s heritage and lessons To build a research network on African mountains, it is essential to capital-ize on the legacy that has been left by previous mountain initiatives, learning both from their strengths and failures. Among the circumstances that motivat-
ed mountain initiatives in Africa, one could cite the rapid population growth, fragile ecosystems, economic pres-sures, and transboundary conflicts. The consequences of such issues have compromised population livelihood in terms of water shortages, land degrada-tion, change in rainfall seasons, inva-sive pests and diseases and increased poverty in many African countries.
The African Mountains Association (AMA)This ambitious initiative was created by African researchers with a non-gov-ernmental Pan-African status. Formed in Ambo, Ethiopia, in 1986, its objec-tives were to create a venue for inter-action between African researchers and to influence policy. The Associa-tion contributed to the discussions on the Mountain Agenda which led to the inclusion of a chapter on sustainable mountain development (Chapter 13) in Agenda 21. Despite the enthusiasm and determination by organizing meetings across the continent (Morocco, Kenya, and Lesotho) and publishing news-
AfroMontGlobal Change Research Network of African Mountains: Legacy, Role and Visions
Editorial“These regional networks are where “real people do real research.” We will persist in our attempt to keep these networks functioning, to make manifest those potential communities of researchers” Greg Greenwood the Executive Director of MRI.
Mountain research has received very little attention and publicity in African countries. African mountains and high-lands are however the most important assets of the continent contributing significantly to the socioeconomic de-velopment in terms of water, land and other essential resources. Unfortunate-ly, there has been no significant impact of research outputs on governance and policy making over the last decades.The rapid utilisation of natural resourc-es and the lack of relevant policies of conservation for sustainability will cer-tainly lead to frequent disasters such as drought, famine and starvation, which in many situations have been wrongly attributed to the “never-ending saga” of global change. The degradation of eco-systems and the exploitation of natural resources will decimate the unique bio-diversity of this continent if decisions to reverse this trend are not taken.
Networking and coordination are prom-ising initiatives that consolidate moun-tain research all over the world. How-
ever, in Africa such initiatives should be backed by a strong enthusiasm from African governments. As far as moun-tains are concerned, supporting poli-cies are necessary to overcome these prophesied calamities often credited to global change. It is within this framework that MRI through the Food Agriculture Orga-nization (FAO) initiated an African global change research network for mountains - AfroMont - to promote and facilitate communication among moun-tain researchers and stakeholders, and to inform policy. During the last year, this initiative has mobilized signifi-cant support for the generation of new knowledge on long term sustainability in African mountains.
Saliou NiassyNetwork Coordinator
MRI Coordinator for AfroMontCentre for Environmental StudiesUniversity of [email protected]: saliou.niassyLandline +27124204527Fax +27124203210http://mri.scnatweb.ch/mri-africa
Saliou Niassy and Willem Ferguson
„To build a research network on African mountains it is essential to capitalize the legacy that has been left by previous mountain initiatives.“
Mountain Research Initiative Newsletter no. 7, 201234
letters and proceedings, AMA went through a period of silence due to fi-nancial and logistical difficulties. The decline of AMA could be attributed lack of commitment of members.
African Highlands Initiative (AHI) The African Highlands Initiative, launched in 1995, was a conglomerate of Eastern African and international research organizations that worked with local communities, governments and others NGOs in Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda. This regional program hosted by the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) in Nai-robi was an initiative of the Consulta-tive Group for International Agricul-tural Research (CGIAR) and a network of the Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa (ASARECA). Its objec-tives were to improve livelihoods of highlands of eastern and central Africa, which were shown to be highly vulner-able to climate change and population growth. AHI’s objectives were to de-
velop an “integrated natural resource management” (INRM) program in collaboration with beneficiaries (high-land communities) and partners such as national and international research organizations and networks, organiza-tions, local government, policy makers, community-based organizations, and male and female farmers. The African Highland Initiative no longer appears very active: its website has not been up-dated since 2006.
Maloti-Drakensberg Trans-frontier Programme (MDTP)The Kingdom of Lesotho and the Republic of South Africa signed a memorandum in 2001 to establish the Maloti-Drakensberg Transfrontier Conservation and Development Area. The area is known to be an important centre of endemism and is currently considered as a World Heritage Site. The project was funded by World Bank to ensure the conservation of the biodi-versity and the cultural heritage left by the Khoi-San. Today the programme is still running with bilateral commitment
to maintain in a sustainable manner to benefit generations in future. However there is little emphasis which consists in put on research programmes.
Cameroon Highland InitiativeThis mountain initiative in Camer-oon is unknown to many mountain researchers in Africa. Mountain areas in Cameroon are rich in diversity of flora and fauna. There is high resul-tant ecological diversity combined with high species richness, high endemism, “l’Afrique en miniature”, a well-known expression referring to this richness. Due to non-sustainable utilization of resources, mountains in Cameroon are subjected to threats that endanger many plant and animal species. There are re-ports of extinction, habitat fragmenta-tion and this has been aggravated by the conversion of large forest areas into agricultural lands using very non sus-tainable approaches (slash, burns etc...).
Due to mounting population pres-sure and livelihood challenges, uni-versities and NGOs took the lead to
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investigate mountain issues. Several non-governmental attempts such as the Cameroon Mountains Conservation Foundation (CAMCOF) and the Environ-ment and Rural Development Foundation (ERuDeF) have also been initiated to pro-mote the conservation and sustainable de-velopment of those precious areas.
In its Mountain initiative, EruDeF fo-cussed on the Lebialem division in the South West Province of Cameroon and the Mont Bamboutos in the North East, characterized by the highest number of landslides and destruction of arable and productive landscapes and property lost. Mt. Bamboutos is a source for wa-ter to many major rivers in Cameroon. The Mount Cameroon initiative, though not well supported by the Cameroonian government, aims at continuing the policies of conservation of mountain resources initiated by Germans and French during the colonial era through education, sensitizing and sustainable development projects.
Fouta Djallon InitiativeA number of countries in West Africa, including Senegal, Mali, Niger and the Gambia, are largely depend on wa-ter resources from the Fouta Djallon. Due to the economic situation in those countries the Guinea Mountain initia-tive over the last three decades relied
exclusively on international interven-tion aiming at the conservation and development of natural resources in the Fouta Djallon Mountains, and the promotion of sustainable community development.
Regional efforts such as « l’Observatoire Régional des Ressources Naturelles et de l’Environnement du Massif du Fouta Djallon (ORMFD) » have been created for the management of natural resources. The FAO-funded regional programme for integrated development of Fouta Djallon was also launched in 2008. All these initiative focus on pro-moting conservation activities in the management and protection of water resources, and national parks respec-tively between Senegal, Mali, Maurita-nia and Guinea and between Senegal, The Gambia and Guinea.
Current situation of Mountain research in AfricaThe common situation in Africa is a neglect of mountains by African gov-ernments, resulting in non-sustainable practices in these fragile environments. Research programmes are being con-ducted in Africa mostly by academics though international collaborations and non-governmental organizations with often little connection one another. With the global awareness of climate
change, there is significant input from external funding aimed at promoting adaptation and sustainable develop-ment in mountain areas. But mountain research is still neglected.
Apart from the AHI, which focussed essential on community livelihoods, little is known about the governments’ measures on mountain areas. However, AHI focused exclusively on communi-
ties in East Africa. There has been little contribution from African governments for the conservation of mountains else-where.
In central and west Africa, little is known about mountain research initia-tives and the governance of sustainable development in mountain areas. There are reports of external funding but there is no visibility in term of scien-tific outputs and their conversion into policy or practice.
„The common situation in Africa is a neglect of African mountains by African governments, resulting in non-sustainable practices in these fragile environments.“
Mountain Research Initiative Newsletter no. 7, 201236
News from AfroMont
The role of AfroMontSince the creation of the Global Change Research Network in African Moun-tains in Kampala in 2007 and the im-plementation of the FAO-funded co-ordination in Africa in August 2011,
AfroMont has garnered a large amount of continent-wide awareness and sup-port through a series of visits in all sub-Saharan mountain regions. AfroMont aims at promoting an African network of mountain research based on previous experiences of African initiatives. The previous lack of coordination has been the major issue in African mountain research. Irregularities of mountain forum and meetings, situations where no news, abstracts or proceedings are produced, have significantly hampered mountain research in Africa.
AfroMont’s aim is also to facilitate regional and continental branches throughout the montane parts of Africa. In November 2011, there was a fruitful contribution of AfroMont in the Inter-national Conference in East African Mountains (ICEAM). In August 2012, in collaboration with the MDTP, Af-roMont organized for a regional moun-tain Workshop in Lesotho involving
South Africa, Lesotho, Zimbabwe and Malawi, and which provided a platform for both researchers to perform regional research prioritization and for politi-cians to make contact with scientists involved in research that may enlighten sustainable resources in mountain ar-eas within the context of global change. A database of researchers is currently under reconstruction. AfroMont pro-vides regular communications to the MRI newsletter and close contact with scientists through telephone, email and Skype. A website was created to pro-mote interaction and knowledge shar-ing among African researchers.
AfroMont’s vision and road map AfroMont has two main areas of focus:
1. Collaborative continental and re-gional research programmes.In an evaluation of the effect of global change on mountain ecosystems, the most important inhibiting factor is a lack of long term regional and conti-nent-wide data collected in a compa-rable way. AfroMont attempts to en-courage regional and continent-wide research collaboration by the initiation of research that addresses this lack of information. The Lesotho meeting for-mulated a southern African research agenda that needs to be integrated with a continent-wide set of research pri-orities. A continent wide database for long-term monitoring of global change is a key programme and a monitor-ing network comprising an African environmental observatory should be
established to assess the degradation of natural resources in respect to cli-mate change and population growth in mountain regions. Based on previous contacts with Cameroonians mountain researchers, AfroMont is looking for-ward to organize a Mountain Confer-ence in Cameroon to mobilize all sub-Saharan researchers.
2. Science-policy interaction.AfroMont informs and brings aware-ness on mountain issues with respect to global change in Africa, especially since both mountain landscapes and down-stream non-mountain landscapes benefit from mountain resources. Mountain re-
searchers and policy makers, two groups of people who have historically tended to avoid each other, must work together with least disturbance to the ecosystem for the benefit of communities living in mountains. This situation has been exacerbated by the lack of funding sup-port from local governments. African researchers always need to outsource funding from overseas to run their proj-ects. A lot of funding has been dedicated to achieve mountain sound initiatives such as African Highland Initiative, the Cameroon initiative and FAO initiative
„AfroMont has garnered a large amount of continent-wide awareness and support through a series of visits in all sub-Saharan mountain regions.“
„The Lesotho meeting formulated a southern African research agenda that needs to be integrated with a continent-wide set of research priorities. “
37Mountain Research Initiative Newsletter no. 7, 2012
in Fouta Djallon. The consequences of such practices explain the fact that re-search outputs are published abroad and are therefore not seen by local policy makers to influence local policies.
AfroMont will certainly be a key ac-tor on the implementation of the Future Earth programme in Africa by using its connections with African scientists and researchers currently focussing of Glob-al Change in African mountains.
AfroMont up to date
News: subscribe to the AfroMont RSS feed or the Newsflash at http://mri.scnatweb.ch/mri-africa
Mountain Conference in Buea-Chang, 21-25 January 2013: http://mri.scnatweb.ch/mri-africa/mountain-conference-in-buea-dschang-cameroon-21-25-january-2013
References
African Highlands Initiative (AHI) 2008 External review and impact assessment, Program Evaluation Report
African Highlands Initiative 2005 Report for the AHI Priority Setting Exercise AHI Strategy for ASARECA 2005–2010, Compiled by Ann Stroud and Derek Peden
Bruno Messerli, Hans Hurni, Bekure Wolde-Semayat, Shibru Tedla, Jack D. Ives and Mesfin Wolde-Mariam 1988 Af-rican Mountains and Highlands: Introduction and Resolutions. Mountain Research and Development, African Moun-tains and Highlands, Vol. 8, No. 2/3, pp. 93-100
ERuDeF Project document, Community-based Management and Conservation of Cross River gorilla at the Lebialem -Mone Forest Landscape, Western Cameroon
Greg Greenwood, 2011. Real Projects in Real Places. Newsletter of the Mountain Research Initiative MRI NEWS. No. 6, October
Ojany F. F. 1992. Introduction African Mountains and Highlands: Crisis in Africa-Needed Research and Action, with Special Reference to Kenya, Mountain Research and Development, Vol. 12, No. 4 pp. 309-314
